Danny Simpson – Premier League’s Number One Number Two?

With just a year left on his contact, Danny Simpson has been a much talked about player and has gone through the highs and lows this season. Having made seven clearances off the line, right through to abandoning Twitter after abuse from alleged Newcastle fans following his part in Arsenal’s winner at The Emirates.

Statistics might not always tell the full story but the Premier League Player Index (used by players, scouts, managers and coaches etc.) paint a very positive picture of Simpson’s season.

Simpson is ranked at 23 in the entire Premier League index table of 609 Premier League players and is rated as the number one right-back in the Premier League.

Amongst his personal statistics, Simpson has made more clearances than any other right-back and in terms of ground covered, Kyle Walker get closest to Danny’s 173.9 miles but is still left trailing 8 miles behind.

What my own eyes tell me is that Danny Simpson is a committed hard working player who isn’t necessarily the most polished or accomplished going forward.

Maybe though he epitomises the spirit of the current Newcastle team and total commitment is something that nobody should be criticising, least of all our own fans.