Danny Simpson: An unsung hero for Leicester City

Most clubs have one or two players whose constant hard work and consistently good performances get overshadowed. Definitely by those outside of the club, sometimes by those who support it too. Danny Simpson is certainly one of those for Leicester City. During the course of the season, he’s emerged as a dark horse for the club’s Player of the Year award and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to pick up the Players’ Player award either.

In a season where the Foxes have lacked consistency as a whole, few of the players in the squad have managed it over the course of the entire season too. With the exception of two. Kasper Schmeichel has enjoyed one of his best seasons yet, despite missing a few games through injury too, and Simpson is the other. While Danny Drinkwater had a brilliant first half, and Wilfred Ndidi’s had a great half since joining, these two have been reliable throughout and a vital reason for our success when we’ve had it.

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Danny Simpson has been Mr Reliable for Leicester this season and while those efforts may have flown under the radar for some, he’s becoming more and more appreciated within the Foxes fan base. Some of his best games this season have also come against our toughest opponents. Though his side struggled in parts away at Sevilla, he was a rock at the back throughout, popping up left, right and centre with last ditch blocks, key headers and covering his teammates superbly.

With our ambitions having grown, I wondered last summer if we would sign another right-back, or if Luis Hernandez could end up pushing Simpson out of his place, but neither came to fruition. The truth is, we didn’t need to. Last season was a brilliant one for Simpson but I might have been guilty of suspecting that was more to do with our collective brilliance. I was wrong. He’s proved that with the way that he’s carried on exactly where he left off, meaning all we need to review for the upcoming transfer window is some cover to protect us should he be injured or suspended.

Simpson’s been accused of standing off his man too often, but it seems a harsh criticism when it feels like he comes away top from the majority of the battles he faces. Given how good the rest of his positional play is, it’s certainly a deliberate tactic too. Think back to how many times the opposition, when he has done this, have done something dangerous from the outcome and it’s not that often. He’s got the right kind of attitude that fans like to see too. Going back to his Sevilla performance, he looked visibly frustrated with how lacklustre we were in the first half and did a lot to try and motivate the side further in.

At thirty, this is a level of maturity we perhaps hadn’t seen from him as much before, but you can’t fault his passion. He’s never afraid to take one for the team either and collect the booking that generally follows. Similarly to Schmeichel, perhaps we have relied on him one too many times to bail us out, but he’s pretty much always delivered. He’s unlucky not have been given man of the match on several occasions this season.

Perhaps in another season where Schmeichel didn’t have such an incredible Champions League run, and saved two penalties in two games, Simpson might win our player of the year award. You wouldn’t begrudge him it either. Though it’s hard to see him pipping the Danish goalkeeper to it. Largely due to his contributions so often securing, or saving points for the Foxes. Whereas Schmeichel’s had more than his share of public praise though, Simpson’s rarely been mentioned. His role is one that’s easy to be complacent about, or assume it’s just him doing his job. It’s not a flashy right-back display that we get from him, but it’s no less important than any of our other players.

We’re in a spell of football where fullbacks are often utilised more as wing-backs. There’s more emphasis on their attacking prowess and their goal contribution. Danny Simpson is not that kind of right-back, but that’s partly why he’s been so important for Leicester. It suits our style. Ok, he’s yet to score a goal for the Foxes, and he rarely notches assists, but he can defend. We’ve had several fullbacks who have been superb going forward, but incredibly shaky and unreliable at their primary job. He’s intelligent enough to understand his role, happy to stay back and cover his teammates when they go up for corners and to only push forward on rare occasions when we can afford him to. Otherwise, he’ll be found staying back, covering that back line.

Solid is the perfect word for what he brings to Leicester. It can’t always feel rewarding to sit back and protect while Riyad Mahrez has almost entire creative freedom ahead. Even on the days that the Algerian causes our opponents no end of problems, one small mistake and Simpson is left exposed and isolated on the wing. Yet so many times this season he’s been in the right place at the right time to put a halt to a dangerous move. Players like that are a dream for those playing alongside them.

It’s worth noting that Simpson had to be patient to get his run in the side. Signed under Nigel Pearson in the summer of 2014, he was second to Richie De Laet and his game time was limited. Even when Claudio Ranieri took over, he had to bide his time. However, he was one of two changes to our back line that the Italian made in September. After a terrible defensive performance against Arsenal saw us concede five goals, Simpson replaced De Laet, Christian Fuchs replaced Jeff Schlupp and the rest, as they say, is history. Those changes became a permanent fixture, and an incredibly successful one that secured a Premier League title.

It may not necessarily be eye-catching. He may not fit the modern interpretation of a fullback, but part of why Leicester City can play the way that we do is down to Danny Simpson. It’s been another brilliant season from him that deserves more recognition than he’ll likely get.

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