Interview ~ Michael Simpson

After two years of trying I managed, after the Chesterfield game, to finally get hold of, Simmo.

WWISC: I’ve finally managed to corner the man that I’ve asked for an interview a couple of times before in the past but he’s always managed to run away. So at last I’ve got Michael Simpson.

WWISC: Simmo, how’s the captain’s armband feeling?

Simmo: Absolutely delighted to get it, disappointed that we haven’t got a couple of wins of the last two weeks but we’ll improve on that.

WWISC: agreed, we seemed to lose the plot a at times today. We scored three brilliant goals and gifted three very sloppy goals in return.

Simmo: I have to agree with you there our goal were really good and theirs were a bit scratchy. We didn’t play very well today but having said that three-two up with a minute to go we should give it away, we should win those games. The governor has sorted it out and we won’t do that again.

WWISC: He’s had a word has he?

Simmo: He’s had a word with a few of us, yes! He’s rolled up a few skirts today he has. We’ve got the game on Monday so it’s not to far away, so hopefully we’ll sort it out by then.

WWISC: What are for feelings about the new lads who’ve come in?

Simmo: Dellie came in today and got ‘Man of the Match’ so they must have thought that he did well, Charlie Mapes he’s done well but he has had a virus all week so he wasn’t at his best today.

WWISC: We hear that you’ve been carrying an injury, what’s the condition of that?

Simmo: Apparently there’s some cartilage flapping about in my ankle. I’ve been told to carry on and if it gets better then good. But if it gets worse I’ll have to have an operation which I don’t want to have.

WWISC: That would be unfortunate as it would cause you to be out of the side for a while.

Simmo: Apart from that I could be off my feet for up to ten weeks.

WWISC: Are you aware of the saying, "if Michael Simpson doesn’t play, Wycombe doesn’t play"?

Simmo: I’m not sure about that. There are a lot of other players there like Brownie and Bully who can come in. We’ll be alright.

WWISC: I see that your little one is growing up quite a lot!

Simmo: He’s quality! He keeps us busy at home, but he’s great.

WWISC: What’s his name?

Simmo: Taylor

WWISC: Taylor?

Simmo: Taylor!

WWISC: Not named after a goalkeeper we used to have is he?

Simmo: He wasn’t named after Martin, NO! Brucie tried to say that he was but I can tell you now, he wasn’t.

WWISC: It was nothing to do with him at all then.

Simmo: No we just liked the name and he’s fine the little man is.

WWISC: How old is he now?

Simmo: He just turned one a couple of weeks ago.

WWISC: He’s finding his feet I’ve noticed.

Simmo: Yes he’s started to walk on his own now; in a couple of weeks he’ll be running about everywhere.

WWISC: How long have you been at Wycombe Wanderers now?

Simmo: Six or Seven years now.

WWISC: You’ll be planning a testimonial before long.

Simmo: It's getting on that way.

WWISC: At the end of last season you managed to pick up all three Player of the Year awards, how did that feel to you.

Simmo: I would have been delighted to have got one but to get all three was fantastic, I was absolutely delighted.

WWISC: Are you going to go for it again this year?

Simmo: Hopefully, but I think there will be a few more candidates this year. I think we’ll have a better season with more players playing well so it’ll be a lot harder to win it this year.

WWISC: Remembering back when you first came here on loan from Notts County I remember that you had a storming start and then once you’d signed you seemed to go off the boil for a while.

Simmo: Yes! I signed under John Gregory and was playing well. I then had a dip in my form and didn’t really get into the side for a bit. Probably not really until the new manager came and then I’ve probably played my best.

WWISC: I have to agree that your form over the last few years has been your best.

Simmo: Yes! Over the last year or so it’s got better and better.

WWISC: I’ve not seen any games until today and you didn’t look as though you were firing on all cylinders today.

Simmo: I’d be the first to say that I didn’t play well today. I don’t think Charlie played well. Darren’s done well; he’s scored a couple of goals so he’s flying. We’re playing with wingers so it’s suiting us.

WWISC: Jockey seems to be getting back in there now.

Simmo: Jockey’s been brilliant really since pre-season and he’s carried it through into the season. With his pace he can skin most of the full-backs in this division.

WWISC: Whilst we’re talking about other players, hows Frank? Is he anywhere near fitness?

Simmo: I think you’ll find that Frank is just about ready for a game now.

WWISC: Mind you young Willow has done extremely well.

Simmo: Yes! We thought that the gaffer might have put Frank back in today but he didn’t but Willow has come in and has done better than anyone thought he would. He’s got a lot of respect from all of the players now. He’s been absolutely brilliant

WWISC: Looking forward we’ve got a couple of big games coming up. We all know that Sheffield Wednesday are now in our division, but, they are still a massive club.

Simmo: Don’t forget we’ve got Grimsby before that.

WWISC: I know, but with respect to Grimsby they’re not a big club like Sheffield.

Simmo: No they’re not a big club, but it will still be a very hard game.

WWISC: Sheffield Wednesday are a bit like Manchester City, when they came down and when Birmingham were down in our division. A very big club.

Simmo: Agreed, they are a massive club and perhaps shouldn’t be in the second division, but it happens! But we’ll give them a game.

WWISC: What are your feelings about the Aston Villa game that’s coming up?

Simmo: Everyone’s looking forward to that. They’re not having the best of times at the moment so maybe we’ll cause a bit of an upset.

WWISC: Any chance that Richard Harris will be back for that game?

Simmo: I haven’t got a clue; I know that the injury is not as bad as they first thought it was. Hopefully he’ll be back in the next few weeks. Iffy did very well today, he led the line well.

WWISC: He seemed to work hard today. Then there’s young Simon Patterson
from Watford who played well when he came on.

Simmo: Yes, we’ve been using Iffy as a target man and he’ll win the flick-ons and when Simon came on it was a great ball in from Ruby and it was a great goal. He’ll do well for us.

WWISC: Are you brave enough to make a prediction about where we’ll finish this season?

Simmo: Top Half I think. First of all we need to be safe. If we manage to get the points early, then we can push on.

WWISC: I have to say that what I’ve seen so far this season it’s more exciting then the end of last season.

Simmo: It was a bit ‘doom and gloom’ at the end of last season. We’ve come in and changed the play to four-four-two again and now we’re playing with wingers again. It worked well in pre-season and we’re scoring enough goals, we’ve just got to stop them going in at the other end.

WWISC: Well thanks Simmo, I know that your lady and your little-un are here and I’m sure you’ll want to get back to them so I’d like to thank you for finally taking a few minutes to have a chat with us.

Simmo: No problem.