Another new signing close and awesome Lambert quote
It’s still amazing me how much business we’re doing, and according to the Daily Mail (I love my late night gossip), we’re apparently on the verge of signing another one only half way through July. Amazing I know.
The latest to be mentioned is Danny Simpson, who to be fair has been talked about before and is no real surprise. The story concerns another linked player Chris Gunter, and here is a bit of text from the piece that should clear a few things up:
‘Premier League new boys Reading are finalising a £2.5m deal for Nottingham Forest’s Chris Gunter.
The Royals had been in for Newcastle’s wantaway full-back Danny Simpson, but the 25-year-old is now expected to join Aston Villa.’
Of course we should always take these reports with a pinch of salt, but the language is a lot more definitive here with the report making it sound like it’s a done deal. Guess we’ll soon see either way, and having just landed in America it might make deals a little bit more difficult to complete, though I guess in this day and age things can be done simply enough.
Regarding Simpson I’d be happy enough. Good age, played a decent amount of games for Newcastle and likes to attack which fits in well with the Lambert philosophy. Newcastle have much publicised interest in Debuchy and I’ve seen reports saying Simpson could be available for £2 million as he refuses to sign a new contract.
We have of course just signed Lowton from Sheffield United but it seems he is flexible playing right back or centre-back, and with Lichaj as well it be more than welcome to have some quality options and some added depth.
The other little tidbit tonight concerns Jean Makoun and his on-going work permit issues. He was left out of the squad traveling to the States, presumably because of said issue and apparently the problem concerns Makoun’s inability to speak English (according to the Mirror).
Apparently you need to pass an English Language test to be able to get a work permit which is fair enough I suppose. I just hope a matter like this doesn’t stop a player many of us want to see back at the Villa before he’s really been given a chance. He looks talented and whether this is the issue, or there are some other things happening, I just hope we find out either way. I’d love for him to be given a proper chance at the club.
Finally I will leave you with this wonderful Lambert quote that you can’t help but love, especially after the dross we were served last season:
“We’ll try and play football – I don’t like long ball.”
The man continues to do no wrong!
UTV.
Aston Villa News 24/7
Have you heard cisse at newcastle speak English?
That’s it mate, it seems dodgy to a number of people. Sure there must be others as well who struggle. Guessing the truth will come out soon enough.
I’m a Newcastle fan but have always liked villa as a staple prem team that usually (except under MacLeish) plays decent football. In all honesty, Simpson is awful. On the ball he lacks composure, can’t pass or cross. Defensively he’s shaky too, position wise he’s generally poor and tends to be the sort of defender who gets attracted to the ball and leave his man. When he gets close enough to someone to tackle them (which is rare), he’s actually fairly strong in the tackle. My biggest issue with Simpson is his off the field problems. As a club who had to deal with Joey Barton, it takes a lot to shock me into hating a player for things away from football. When threatened with losing his driving license for countless speeding offences, he cried to the magistrates about the stress he’s under and how he ‘wouldn’t be able to afford to hire a taxi to training’ – no I’m not joking. The guy is a loser and he’s a very bad footballer. He had issues with his baby daughter a couple of years ago which, of course, you feel bad for him about. But he lost his form then and never regained it. He will frustrate the hell out of you. As for the other player you’re linked with…I live in Derby and follow notts forest, Gunter is dreadful! Good luck for next year, fingers crossed you’ll give us six points again
Cheers for the feedback mate, though I wish you came with a bit more of a ringing endorsement! It’s always nuts to me how a player can look decent from afar, but you get a totally different opinion from those who see him week in and week out. Hopefully if he does come he can sort some of his issues out at least.
Good luck to the toon as well mate, looks like you’re still in the market for more gems. Hopefully next year we put up more of a fight under Lambert!
All the best and thanks for your input.
“Good luck for next year, fingers crossed you’ll give us six points again”
Ahem. Six points again? SO when was the last time you got six points off Villa in a season? I’ll tell you shall I – 1998, I just checked! Cheeky sod!
The info on crap full backs is interesting though, thanks.
Im a toon fan as well and I agree with JP. He is a pretty poor player. I am very surprised to see him being linked with clubs of AV and Chelsea s caliber because he is definately the weak link in our defense. As for going forward Im not sure where he has got the reputation for being good because he is awful at crossing and his passing isnt anything special, he gives the ball needlessly away quite a lot. On the up side he is quite fast, always fit and he has an amazing knack at clearing balls of the line (especially against man utd) but on the whole he is a bit Championship. I like Villa as a club and I would like to see you guys back up the table like you were under o’neill, but signing players like Danny Simpson wont get you there any time soon.
I’m a Newcastle fan and have to say my fellow amigos are being a tad harsh on Simpson in my opinion! He’s no world beater, but he does make some timely interceptions and clearances off the line. He’s an upgrade on Hutton and at £2.5m he’d be decent value.
At 25 he’s a good age. I think he’s dependable in the main, but against absolute top players can be a bit suspect. Last season he got a bit of stick from Toon fans, but on the whole was a 6/10 player, as in gave a fair display over the campaign.
With us trying to get Debuchy and possibly Anita (who can play left back) through the door and with Santon, Ryan Taylor and young Ferguson + Tavernier, Danny Simpson’s surplus to requirements, but for £750k he’s given good service. If I could equate him to a Villa player from the past it would be Mark Delaney – solid, puts in a shift.
Hope that helps you, although it’s only my viewpoint.
Sorry AV fans, but I have to agree with previous posts. DS seems like a very nice person but is, on a good day, only a decent-ish Championship full back. Adequate but no more and not going to drive you up the table.
Cheers for all your views my toon supporting friends, appreciate you taking the time to let us know a bit more about the player. Wish some of you were coming with better news though
After Hutton last year, he’d probably still be an upgrade. And with the signing of Lowton and emergence of Lichaj we’re relatively well covered whatever may happen.
As mentioned good luck this year guys, really admire (albeit begrudgingly!) what you’ve achieved and the players you continue to bring in.
As a Villa fan living in Newcastle I canvassed a few friends about Danny Simpson. The steer I got suggests he’s a good player and that the comments above aren’t representative of the Geordie faithful (indeed its curious to get so many NUFC fans on this board).
His main strength seems to be speed. He’s can spot a good pass. The main criticism appears to be that he does let himself get pushed around and his form does need to stabilise. However overall impression is that with a bit of coaching he could be our Kyle Walker belting down the line.
So it’s ok then to have a manager of the English International side who nobody could understand but not a player!! Double standard somewhere.
I’ll ask the obvious question. How did he pass his last English test to represent Villa 2 seasons ago?