rondwisan
31-10-2010, 09:02 PM
DANNY : Toon are bigger than Cats
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01154/DannySimpson_1154045a.jpg
DANNY SIMPSON knew the question was coming.
After all, for someone who has played for Newcastle and Sunderland, it's an obvious one to ask.
Which club is the biggest?
Considering the hatred between these fiercest of arch-rivals, it is probably a good one to swerve.
Geordies and Mackems will for ever disagree on who are top dogs.
Simpson, though, is not the type to dodge tackles and he is not about to start dodging questions either.
The former Manchester United ace, who helped Sunderland to promotion during a five-month loan spell in 2008, has no doubts Toon put the Black Cats firmly in the North-East shade.
He cannot wait to prove it tomorrow at a white-hot St James' Park and said with a smile: "Having been at Sunderland and experiencing a couple of other places along the way, I think Newcastle are a bigger club.
"I had good times there but coming to Newcastle was just different. You have to look at the history of the club, the players, the managers who have been here over the years.
"You feel it is bigger. There is more expectation and you feel that from the fans at Newcastle.
"Look at Alan Shearer and Bobby Robson. Great people who have been at the club. I just get the feeling looking at the city as a whole.
"Everyone is so passionate, there are 50,000 every week at St James'. And when you sign you just know what kind of place you are at.
"I'm sure my old mates from down the road would say different. But they haven't played for both. I have!
"Of course, in one sense it is just another game and another three points up for grabs. But we as players know exactly what it means to everyone - to the city, to the club, to the fans.
"I had a good time at Sunderland. I went there with Jonny Evans and it was my first proper loan spell away from United.
"We enjoyed it and went on a fantastic run. The night we got promotion was special and playing under Roy Keane was great.
"I speak to a few Sunderland players - Danny Welbeck, Kieran Richardson, Phil Bardsley, Jordan Henderson and Darren Bent - and yeah, it's fair to say the banter has been flying around the last week or so. I can't wait.
"I go to the shops or the petrol station and I get loads of people talking about the derby.
"Mainly it's Newcastle fans. I have probably bumped into some Sunderland fans, too, but they haven't wanted to speak to me. It will be my first North-East derby and the other lads have told me about the noise and how hostile it will be.
"The tackles will be flying in but these are the games I look forward to. Even if I am playing against my mates I want to get stuck into them and come out on top.
"I am expecting the boos... but I am ready for it."
Simpson finally made his first appearance of the season for Chris Hughton's side in last weekend's 2-1 win at West Ham after struggling to shake off an ankle injury.
And he knows exactly what makes a big club after starting at Old Trafford at the tender age of 11.
He is only 23 but has already played under Alex Ferguson, Keane, Sam Allardyce at Blackburn and now Hughton.
You could hardly find four more different gaffers.
But this versatile defender who can operate at full-back or centre-half loves working under the cool, thoughtful gaze of Newcastle boss Hughton.
He said: "I have learned a lot under all the managers I have played under. I owe a lot to Chris Hughton though.
"He got me in on loan and then signed me permanently. He's been different class, steadying the ship and he deserves a massive amount of credit.
Advertisement
Quantcast
"He is very thorough. He has a lot of respect for everyone and we all give it back to him.
"I signed for United when I was 11 so at the time Roy was one of my idols. He always gave 100 per cent and that was the type of player I wanted to be.
"For me personally, he was great to play under too.
"Looking back at my time at United, to think I trained every day with the likes of Scholes, Giggs, Keane, Rooney and Ronaldo was so beneficial. You just watch those guys in training and learn from them.
"It helped me improve but it was the best thing for me to leave United and get first-team football.
"So far it has been great. I played 40-odd games last season, we won the Championship and it could not have gone better.
"I will never forget my time at United. My friends and family still support them and sometimes they say to me 'imagine if you were still there'.
"I just tell them I have moved on - and I am still at a big club now."
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01154/DannySimpson_1154045a.jpg
DANNY SIMPSON knew the question was coming.
After all, for someone who has played for Newcastle and Sunderland, it's an obvious one to ask.
Which club is the biggest?
Considering the hatred between these fiercest of arch-rivals, it is probably a good one to swerve.
Geordies and Mackems will for ever disagree on who are top dogs.
Simpson, though, is not the type to dodge tackles and he is not about to start dodging questions either.
The former Manchester United ace, who helped Sunderland to promotion during a five-month loan spell in 2008, has no doubts Toon put the Black Cats firmly in the North-East shade.
He cannot wait to prove it tomorrow at a white-hot St James' Park and said with a smile: "Having been at Sunderland and experiencing a couple of other places along the way, I think Newcastle are a bigger club.
"I had good times there but coming to Newcastle was just different. You have to look at the history of the club, the players, the managers who have been here over the years.
"You feel it is bigger. There is more expectation and you feel that from the fans at Newcastle.
"Look at Alan Shearer and Bobby Robson. Great people who have been at the club. I just get the feeling looking at the city as a whole.
"Everyone is so passionate, there are 50,000 every week at St James'. And when you sign you just know what kind of place you are at.
"I'm sure my old mates from down the road would say different. But they haven't played for both. I have!
"Of course, in one sense it is just another game and another three points up for grabs. But we as players know exactly what it means to everyone - to the city, to the club, to the fans.
"I had a good time at Sunderland. I went there with Jonny Evans and it was my first proper loan spell away from United.
"We enjoyed it and went on a fantastic run. The night we got promotion was special and playing under Roy Keane was great.
"I speak to a few Sunderland players - Danny Welbeck, Kieran Richardson, Phil Bardsley, Jordan Henderson and Darren Bent - and yeah, it's fair to say the banter has been flying around the last week or so. I can't wait.
"I go to the shops or the petrol station and I get loads of people talking about the derby.
"Mainly it's Newcastle fans. I have probably bumped into some Sunderland fans, too, but they haven't wanted to speak to me. It will be my first North-East derby and the other lads have told me about the noise and how hostile it will be.
"The tackles will be flying in but these are the games I look forward to. Even if I am playing against my mates I want to get stuck into them and come out on top.
"I am expecting the boos... but I am ready for it."
Simpson finally made his first appearance of the season for Chris Hughton's side in last weekend's 2-1 win at West Ham after struggling to shake off an ankle injury.
And he knows exactly what makes a big club after starting at Old Trafford at the tender age of 11.
He is only 23 but has already played under Alex Ferguson, Keane, Sam Allardyce at Blackburn and now Hughton.
You could hardly find four more different gaffers.
But this versatile defender who can operate at full-back or centre-half loves working under the cool, thoughtful gaze of Newcastle boss Hughton.
He said: "I have learned a lot under all the managers I have played under. I owe a lot to Chris Hughton though.
"He got me in on loan and then signed me permanently. He's been different class, steadying the ship and he deserves a massive amount of credit.
Advertisement
Quantcast
"He is very thorough. He has a lot of respect for everyone and we all give it back to him.
"I signed for United when I was 11 so at the time Roy was one of my idols. He always gave 100 per cent and that was the type of player I wanted to be.
"For me personally, he was great to play under too.
"Looking back at my time at United, to think I trained every day with the likes of Scholes, Giggs, Keane, Rooney and Ronaldo was so beneficial. You just watch those guys in training and learn from them.
"It helped me improve but it was the best thing for me to leave United and get first-team football.
"So far it has been great. I played 40-odd games last season, we won the Championship and it could not have gone better.
"I will never forget my time at United. My friends and family still support them and sometimes they say to me 'imagine if you were still there'.
"I just tell them I have moved on - and I am still at a big club now."