*** Originally published on December 19th 2017 ***

Richard Keys has launched an extraordinary attack on Rafa Benitez - claiming Newcastle United’s current plight is “nothing” to do with Mike Ashley and “everything” to do with the Magpies manager.

United have lost eight of their last nine games and have won just once in 13 matches, a dreadful run of form which has seen Newcastle slip into the Premier League relegation zone.

Benitez was left angered by the Magpies’ failure to strengthen sufficiently during the summer window, warning that their current downturn in form was likely, and has already stressed his desire to recruit reinforcements in January.

But, given the impact Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and David Moyes have made at Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham United respectively, former Sky Sports anchor Keys has decided to “bang the drum for British coaching”.

In the process of praising that trio for their short-term success at those three relegation-threatened clubs, Keys has taken a swipe at so-called ‘super coaches’, and has singled out Benitez for particular criticism.

“For some time now I’ve been banging the drum for British coaching,” Keys writes in his latest blog .

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“Despite the usual hysterical reactions, mostly from people who half-read what I write and immediately jump on their keyboards, I have no intention of stopping.

“Let me say it again - in my view British coaches are every bit as good as their foreign counter-parts.

“Now let’s qualify that statement. Nothing about it is ‘anti’ foreign. Nothing at all. Where would we have been without the entertainment Mourinho has given us down the years? Granted, more off the pitch than on!

“Here’s an inconvenient truth - the three Brits who’ve taken charge at Palace, West Ham and Everton have lifted those clubs 16 places since taking over. Not bad eh?

“Moyes is fast becoming a hero at West Ham, Allardyce has got Everton moving and Hodgson has got Palace off the bottom and out of trouble.”

Benitez has repeatedly cited Newcastle’s inability to compete financially with some of their Premier League rivals in an attempt to contextualise their current plight.

Yet Keys points to the supposed £102million Benitez has spent in the transfer market over the last 18 months - without clarifying that the Spaniard’s business has actually earned the club a £12.8m profit during that time - to allege that Chris Hughton did a better job during the 2009/10 promotion-winning campaign, and that Sean Dyche is, by comparison, excelling at Burnley.

“But I’ve often wondered how a ‘Super Coach’ would manage at the wrong end of our league - and it looks like I might be getting my answer,” Keys continues.

“I’ve said before - great credit to Benitez for the job he did getting Newcastle up. It was every bit as good as the job Chris Hughton did the last time they got promoted from the Championship.

“To get the job done Benitez spent £102m and took 17 players to St James’ Park. Hughton didn’t.

“Now the Toon languish in the bottom three - having taken just one point from 27. I’ll say that again - one point from 27.

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“Benitez wants more money to correct the problem. Of course he does. I’m sure Alan Pardew does at West Brom. I’m sure Paul Clement does. I’m sure David Moyes, Eddie Howe and Roy Hodgson do. I’m sure Mark Hughes does. Will they get it? I don’t think so.

“No, I’m sorry Rafa, it’s a different game at the other end of the table isn’t it? The run Newcastle are on is NOTHING to do with Mike Ashley and EVERYTHING to do with what’s happening ON the pitch - or rather isn’t happening on the pitch. No Rafa, this one is down to you.

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“Sean Dyche hasn’t had anything like £102m to spend at Burnley. In fact, last summer he traded at a profit - again. The Brits are obviously doing something right.”