Danny Simpson Exclusive Interview with WDW Bingo

Danny Simpson is a former professional footballer who played for Manchester United, Leicester City, Newcastle, Sunderland, plus others. He made 371 club appearances, scored 2 career goals and is a Premier League winner with Leicester City.

He spoke exclusively to WDW Bingo on the 18th of November 2025.

Question: Are you confident Man United have finally turned a corner under Ruben Amorim after a five-game unbeaten run?

Danny Simpson: “I am confident that Man United have turned a corner and are on the up as a side. For me, you can see the change in the team over the past month or so. Just look at how they are reacting to going behind now. They were leading 1-0 and then trailing 2-1 away at both Nottingham Forest and Spurs in recent weeks, but they stuck to the plan, battled on to the end of the game and rescued a point in injury time twice.

“That’s the type of character United used to have under Sir Alex Ferguson that we haven’t seen under Ruben Amorim before. That team spirit has been lacking in recent years, and it’s great to see it back in the side.

“However, they are still conceding a lot of goals. They have scored 19 goals in the league this season, and they only have a +1 goal difference, so the defence needs to tighten up if they want to progress further. They will need to improve this to challenge the top four. But I think the attitude, desire, and commitment of the team have changed for the better this season.”

Q: Do you feel the hierarchy deserves praise for sticking with Amorim after a poor start to the season?

DS: “I think you have to give them credit now. However, if United had still been struggling for results in the last five weeks, we’d think they made a poor decision. But that’s just football. The rumours of sacking Amorim were the strongest before they played Liverpool away, a game in which they won, marking the start of this unbeaten run.

“I think sometimes the manager needs to hear the criticism. But once he got the confidence from beating Liverpool, it seems to have filtered through into the whole team, which explains the improvement. The negative media narrative stops, and the players can just focus on getting results with pressure lifted off their shoulders.

“At the moment, it looks like a great decision to stick with him. There are no excuses for United this season. They play one game a week for the full season, they have no European football. As a result, players will be fresh and not tired, and there’s no need to rest them. They should be challenging the top four.”

Q: Given their squad depth and without any European distractions, are United capable of finishing in the top four this season?

DS: “If I were in that dressing room with the United players as a part of that team, I would be looking at my teammates, thinking we must finish in the top four at the very least. They have invested in some top-quality players like Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha, which has led to players like Casemiro’s form improving. This is their time to get back up the table and compete.

“They are playing one game a week all season, which is great for fitness and means there’ll be less rotation required. However, people underestimate the travelling that European football entails. Instead of boarding planes, United players will be able to spend extra time with their families, which makes a big difference to players who sacrifice a lot during their careers.

“There are no excuses for United not to finish in the top four this season.”

Q: How much of a difference have new signings like Bryan Mbuemo, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens made to the quality and mindset of the team?

DS: “Bryan Mbuemo, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens have made a huge difference to this team. Mbuemo and Cunha look like they can carry the shirt, cope with the pressure of playing for Man United and lead the team forwards. Mbeumo needed a few weeks to get into it. He clearly didn’t have a great pre-season, but now he won’t stop running. As a former fullback, I can say he’d be a nightmare to play against.

“I think Cunha would have liked to have bagged a few more goals, but that will come with time. His presence is unbelievable. He can drag the team up the pitch with his ability, and he has that bite about him which will serve him well at United.

“Senne Lammens has proved himself to be a brilliant shot stopper. United have been conceding a lot of goals, but nobody is saying anything about him, which is the biggest compliment he can receive. When André Onana was playing every week, he was being talked about negatively in the press, so for Lammens to just eliminate that narrative shows how good he’s been.

“Amorim did a great job integrating him into the team. He spent the money on him but gave him time to adapt to England and his new club before playing him, which has served him in good stead. He has been brilliant for such a young goalkeeper.”

Q: Would you give Casemiro a new contract?

DS: “I can see both sides to this debate. He has been great this season, but if he were to stay, he would have to alter his wages significantly. At his age, he has to expect contracts to get shorter and more appearance-based, but would he be willing to settle for that, I’m not sure.

“I think it’s probably time for him to just see his contract out and move on. That’s the point of view I expect the club to take as well. He’s been a great servant, thank him and move on. That would free up a lot of wages, which can be put to use signing one or two young, hungry midfielders that secure United’s future.

“Casemiro has had a brilliant career, and he has been great this season for United, so my heart wants him to stay and keep his experience in the changing room. But I think he will move on at the end of his contract.”

Q: Man United are going to lose both Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo when they go to AFCON. Both players have been key for United this season. Do you think this will affect United’s form?

DS: “I think this is going to be a big problem for United. They have been two of their best players this season, and it means they lose the whole right-hand side of the team. I think Amad Diallo has been brilliant at right-wing-back this season. He probably didn’t want to compete for the number 10 spot this season, and has found himself in the best position to both attack and defend.

“As a former full back, having those two running at you would be a nightmare, so United’s rivals will be glad to see the back of them for a few weeks. United will probably have to play Diogo Dalot at right-wing-back, and his attacking threat is nowhere near Diallo’s level. It also means someone else will have to play on the left as Dalot moves over, so it’s all very disruptive and the last thing the manager needs when they are finally picking up some form.

“I am concerned about it, they will be a massive loss to United. From a selfish point of view, both I and everyone at the club will be hoping Cameroon and Ivory Coast get knocked out of the competition early, as bad as that sounds.”

Q: Do United need signings in January? They have been rumoured with Adam Wharton from Palace and Elliott Anderson from Forest. Do you like either of these players?

DS: “I watched Elliot Anderson when United played Forest away, and I even watched him on the player cam for a while, and I thought he was outstanding. He is so strong, really clever, and he is always demanding the ball, which is exactly what you want from a midfielder. He can play deeper or further forward, which would be ideal in Amorim’s formation.

“Adam Wharton is also a fantastic player. He is very different to Anderson, he is very slight but probably better technically. I think it would be great if United could sign both players. That would really bolster their midfield options and improve them massively. If I had to choose between them, I would pick Anderson, as I prefer his strength and size. I also imagine he has some kind of buyout and would be cheaper than Wharton.”

Q: Would you have liked to play right wing back in Amorim’s formation? How do you think Amad Diallo has adapted to the role this season?

DS: “I myself would have hated to play wing back. The position demands a lot going forward and defensively. I think a lot of people underestimate how hard a role that is to fill. That is why I’m surprised at how well Amad has adapted to the position; it is really impressive. I would have liked to play on the right of the three centre-backs in this formation, as it would have suited my game much better.

“He has had a lot of game time in that position now, and I think he’s been great. He’s developed a key relationship with Mbeumo, which is making both of their roles easier while attacking and defending. I think he works really hard, and you can see that reflected in his game at the moment.”

Q: There are currently no Man United players, excluding Marcus Rashford, in the England squad. What do you make of that, given that United have a rich history of having top-quality England players in their side?

DS: “It’s strange to see, but I don’t think Amorim will mind one bit. It allows him to work more with Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo while a lot of the other players are representing their countries. Over the past two seasons, Maguire has been outstanding for United, but Thomas Tuchel doesn’t need to watch him in these games to know what he could bring to that side next summer.

“But all of these players would need to be playing every week to be considered. Shaw and Maguire need to stay fit and perform; then they will enter Tuchel’s thinking, as they have always been brilliant for England. A few years ago, to play for England, you had to be playing for United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool, to get a chance, but now players from all Premier League teams are getting the opportunity they deserve.

“There are also a lot of English players going abroad now, so I think it just works out that United don’t have many England players knocking on the door at the moment. But, there’s plenty of football to play before the World Cup.”

Q: Should Dan Burn and Tino Livramento be starting for England next summer?

DS: “Dan Burn has been fantastic for Newcastle over the last few years. But I think the centre back position for England is competitive, and Dan is a part of that, but I don’t think he will start at the World Cup. He will probably be in the final squad, though. Although I think if you asked England fans if they’d rather have Burn or Maguire in the England squad, they’d pick Harry because of how good he’s been in an England shirt throughout his career.

“I think the starting centre-backs will be a combination of Marc Guéhi, John Stones, and Ezri Konsa. Unfortunately, for Tino Livramento, he’s injured; otherwise, I think he would be exactly what England needs. He is very much like Kieran Trippier as he has the ability to play both left and right back at an equal level, which is brilliant for an international tournament.

“If he gets himself fit, I can see him playing for England next summer. But Nico O’Reilly has come into the squad recently and looked very accomplished for a young man breaking into the team. He looks like he’s been playing for England for years, and credit to him. All Tino can do is keep himself fit for as much of this season as possible, and I think he’ll play a part at the World Cup.”

Q: Is Jacob Murphy the most underrated player in the Premier League?

DS: “Jacob Murphy is massively underrated. He has been so good for Newcastle over the past few years, and how often does somebody notch double-digit assists in a season, and you barely hear a thing about it? He reminds me a lot of my old teammate Marc Albrighton; he delivers the ball perfectly, and that’s why he gets so many assists.

“But he is also a quiet player, he does a solid job and gets on with being a footballer. He’s not flashy, so he will always be underrated, but it’s always great to have those kinds of players on your side. Marc was vital to that Leicester team when we won the Premier League.”

Q: You played for both Newcastle and Sunderland, but only for Newcastle in the Tyne-Wyre derby. What is the derby like in terms of atmosphere and tension?

DS: “When you go to the Stadium of Light as a Newcastle player on derby day, it is an eye-opening experience. Getting the coach to the game, and the fans are lined up in the street to abuse you, which is to be expected, but it’s a tough atmosphere. Any Newcastle player going there for the first time will get a big shock.

“The games are always full of fireworks, and it starts long before the game. From the coach, walking into the ground, the warm-up all leads to this special game. Newcastle will be going there thinking a draw is a good result, given the form of both teams. The derby is always rough, but players need to be smart now. I got booked up against Danny Welbeck in the derby one year, and I could continue to niggle at him off the ball before the days of VAR, but what a game it will be in a few weeks.”

Q: How do you think it will turn out in a few weeks? Given the clubs’ differing starts to the season? Do you think Newcastle fans might be worried?

DS: “I’d be surprised if Newcastle fans aren’t at least slightly apprehensive about the fixture. The derby feels the fairest it has been in a long time in terms of league positions and the form the teams are in.

“Sunderland also have the advantage of only focusing on the Newcastle game that week, which will help a lot. Newcastle play Bayer Leverkusen away in the Champions League a couple of days before the game, and then they have the quarter-final of the EFL Cup against Fulham a few days later. These other games will be a distraction for Newcastle, and Sunderland will be well aware of it.

“You play every game to win, but Sunderland will make it really tough for Newcastle. Sunderland will come into the game expecting to win, and Newcastle would probably settle for a point if you offered it to them right now.”

Q: How do you view Regis Le Bris and the job he’s done this season? Do you think Sunderland will be able to keep hold of him if elite clubs come calling?

DS: “Regis Le Bris has done a fantastic job at Sunderland so far this season. But it has only been 11 games, and the toughest part of the season is coming up. Fixtures come thick and fast, injuries creep in, and form can wobble. But if Sunderland are still in the top four in January, then fans can start to get excited about the prospect of European football next season.

“We have seen lots of teams have strong starts to the season and then fall away, like Forest last season or Blackpool and Villa over the years. But what he has done so far has been nothing short of brilliant. There may be a few other managers ahead of him to get an elite job, such as Oliver Glasner or Andoni Iraola, which, in my opinion, is great for Sunderland and their future.”

Q: Where does Riyad Mahrez rank with the best players you have ever played with?

DS: “Riyad Mahrez has to be in the top five players I’ve ever played with. It was brilliant to watch him develop, literally right in front of me on the pitch. The levels he got to during that title-winning season were incredible, and everything he has gone on to achieve since then in his career speaks for itself.

“I’ve trained with a lot of unbelievable players at Man United, but I only played 10 games or so for the club, meaning I didn’t share the pitch with a lot of them. Somebody who really impressed me when playing with him was Hatem Ben Arfa at Newcastle. He was incredible. But Riyad’s longevity definitely trumps Ben Arfa’s. Riyad is for sure a top-five player I’ve ever played with.”

Q: Do you think anyone will ever beat Jamie Vardy’s record of scoring in 11 Premier League games in a row? The closest Haaland has ever got is seven in a row.

DS: “I hope nobody ever beats Jamie Vardy’s consecutive goals record. It was written in the stars that he scored the 11th goal against Man United to break Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record. But if anyone can beat it, it’s Erling Haaland.

“However, he has only got as far as seven so far. Look at all the brilliant strikers the Premier League has had over the years: Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Sergio Agüero, Alan Shearer and Robin van Persie, just to name a few. They haven’t got near it, which just demonstrates how difficult it is.

“At the time, I don’t even think anyone in the squad really realised how big a feat it was, we were just taking things game by game. I’ve heard Haaland say he wants the record, but I hope Vardy never loses it.”

Q: Your former teammate Ronaldo has announced recently that this will be his last major tournament with Portugal. Are you shocked by this? Did you expect him to carry on playing longer? Would you like to see him top off his career by winning the World Cup?

DS: “First and foremost, I would love England to win the World Cup, but if that’s not meant to be, then I would love to see Cristiano Ronaldo win it. What a story that would be. For Ronaldo to win the only trophy that has eluded him in his career in his last ever international tournament would be unbelievable.

“I think Portugal have a great chance of winning it. The conditions in North America will suit their squad, and they have bags of talent. Obviously, I want England to win the World Cup, but if they can’t, then Ronaldo winning it would be amazing. Then he can retire and try to prolong his club career for a few more years.”

Q: Is it right that you have joined a number of other ex-Premier League stars at Wythenshawe Vets? What’s that experience like? How did it come about, and do you still enjoy playing football?

DS: “Yes, I am signed on, I’ve just had confirmation back from the FA, and I’m going to make my debut tonight, it should be good fun. I looked at the team sheet for today, and there are 12 ex-players playing tonight, including myself, Joleon Lescott, Danny Drinkwater, Phil Bardsley and loads of others.

“It came about because Stephen Ireland was involved in the team, and a lot of these lads live around Manchester and miss playing football. We play every Tuesday night, and as long as there’s no more than three or four of us ex-pros on the pitch at the same time, it’ll be a good laugh. The losing team has to pay for the pitch, which is a tenner each, so it still feels competitive.

“It’s all about that experience of meeting up with the lads, warming up, playing together and socialising. I know many players leave football and never want to play again, but there are just as many of us who miss it daily, so I signed on for Wythenshawe Vets. I’ll see how it goes tonight and take it from there.”

Q: ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ started up this week, and there’s always somebody with a sports background on the show. Would you ever be interested in being on the show?

DS: “I’d jump on a plane tomorrow to be on ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’. It is a show I would absolutely love to do. I think it looks like a brilliant experience. I know a lot of people shy away from it a little bit, but it just looks like good fun to me.

“I think it’s the challenges and the team aspect that attract me to the show. I’m a former footballer, and football is all about teamwork. You all have to win your own battles for the benefit of the group, exactly like the show.

“I’m not going to lie, I’d be scared of almost everything, small spaces, creepy crawlies and snakes. But it’s a challenge I’d relish. I love watching the show, I think it’s brilliant, so I tune in every year. Obviously, Ant and Dec are Newcastle fans, so hopefully that will swing in my favour and I get asked to do it one year. I’d be first on the plane!”

Q: Any interest in getting back into boxing? Any old football teammates you’d like to jump in the ring with? Maybe Vardy when he retires?

DS: “I am definitely interested in getting back into boxing. I’d love to have one more fight, now that I know what to expect. I now know what preparation it entails and how fight night works. The whole process was a bit new to me when I had my first fight, which would be eliminated if I were to fight again.

“I have told those who need to be told that I’m up for a second fight. I really enjoyed it the first time around. Mentally, I was in a great place. I was training hard and learned a new skill, so hopefully another fight gets sorted.

“I saw David Bentley calling me out on Instagram recently for a bit of banter. But I think it would be weird to fight someone I know or have been teammates with in the past, like Vardy, for example. It would be strange and wouldn’t feel right.”

If you liked our interview with Manchester United legend Danny Simpson, and you’re interested in some of the themes he touches on, check out our fantastic Betting Guide for the 2025/26 Premier League season. Written by our football betting expert Darren Lane, you won’t be disappointed.