Danny Simpson: A Rovers Review

19 January 09 by Dan Clough

It’s difficult to judge a player’s performance for a club in such a desperate situation as Rovers’. When Danny Simpson joined it appeared an excellent move for us. Paul Ince was seemingly utilising his contacts within the game to bring in players, and what better players than that from United’s youth team? A youth team that has consitently brought up an amazing array of talent over the last two decades.

Cover at right back was exactly what we needed, and still need. Since Lucas ‘I didn’t do it for the money’ Neill left for West Ham we’ve never had an out and out right back. Brett Emerton is much more accustomed to a midfield role and Andre Ooijer is an excellent central defender, but is often left behind by speedy wingers, with who he simply cannot keep up! Simpson provided this.

He didn’t start as a first choice right back. In our opening game at Everton he was left on the bench, as are many new signings on the opening day of the season. He wasn’t done any favours by the performance of Andre Ooijer, who played well throughout and went on to score the winning goal.

His debut was in the cup game against Grimsby at Ewood. Unfortunately not a lot can be said of our defensive performance in that game. Although Simpson played the 90 minutes, Grimsby, despite going ahead in the seventh minute with a peach of a free kick, were never in the game and it was very much a coast.

Since then Simpson was, more often than not, a bench warmer. When he came on he was uninspiring. An average player. You know the kind that always gets six out of 10 on Footy Manager! However, with Paul Ince in charge he was hardly given a chance to shine as the team slumped to the lower reaches of the league.

Ince’s departure and the subsequent arrival of Allardyce was make or break. And, it seems for Simpson, he will be left on the bench for the rest of the season. He was given a start against Blyth Spartans in the cup. But so was anyone who is not associated with the first team in any way, shape or form.

Allardyce is one of those managers, impress him or your out. It’s the same with Carlos Villanueva, another of Ince’s loan signings, who has obviously not impressed the new manager. I don’t think Simpson has either and will struggle to break into the first team squad.

We have also been linked with moves for other right backs, including that money grabbing Australian git [Lucas Neill], so a permanent move would seem doubly unlikely.

My opinion? Danny Simpson could make a decent player. I don’t believe he will ever make an impression with United and find it highly unlikely he will ever play in your first team on a regular basis.

Dan Clough is the author of The Rovers Return