After seeing Newcastle United lose in the FA Cup to Manchester City, Richard Keys thinks it is time for Eddie Howe to leave the Magpies.
His side were beaten 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium and are subsequently out of the FA Cup, which means another year will go by without Newcastle United winning silverware.
The Magpies were not great against Man City, as Pep Guardiola’s side eased into the final four of the competition, where they will face Chelsea at Wembley.
For many, that is Newcastle’s season effectively over. However, that completely ignores the fact that we can still qualify for Europe – even if the Champions League is beyond us.
But that seemingly is not good enough for Richard Keys, who believes that Eddie Howe‘s race is run as Newcastle United manager. He wants the former Bournemouth boss to leave St James’ Park, and is incredibly keen to see him replaced with Jose Mourinho.
Richard Keys wants Jose Mourinho to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle
As part of his weekly blog, beIN Sport presenter Keys has called for Howe to be replaced by Mourinho as Newcastle manager.
“I’m genuinely sorry that all the hard work Eddie Howe and his staff have put in has come to nothing,” he said.
“Another year has passed without silverware. How many more campaigns can they waste?
“I was never convinced that Howe was the right man for Newcastle, but in fairness he did a terrific job last season. It was great to see them mixing with the big boys again. He restored pride and belief, but it’s time for change if they want to push on.
“I really don’t think Howe can take them to the next level. His team reflect his personality. They’re ‘nice’. And nice doesn’t win at the very top. You need some devil. City can be easy on the eye, but they’ve got devil. All the best teams have.
“My answer? Jose Mourinho.”
Keys added: “He would be perfect in the North East. He’d energise the place again. Set it alight. Eddie Howe is a good man, but everyone has fallen asleep on his watch.”
Keys is completely wrong about Howe and Newcastle
Given how long it has been going on, I hope Mourinho is paying Keys for this PR. It feels like every week the former Sky Sports host is calling for the ‘special one’ to take Howe’s job on Tyneside.
And, as always, it continues to be a laughable claim. You would think Newcastle had been knocked out of the FA Cup by a minnow, not last season’s treble winners and the best team in the world…
It is difficult to fathom how ridiculous Keys’ views are. I know everyone is entitled to an opinion, but come on!
It is pure shortsightedness, and ignores the foundation that Howe has built. Keys says Newcastle are too nice, but that was not the case last season. They were street smart and savvy, yet that has gone missing.
But it can come back. It will come back under Howe too – we do not need a master of the dark arts like Mourinho to re-find that ‘devil’ that Keys refers to.
Mourinho as Newcastle manager would be a disaster, and it feels like a disaster that the media are desperate for. But Toon fans are not – they want Howe to continue, and you have to imagine the owners feel the same.
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