Richard Keys takes swipe at Kieran Trippier's status after Seamus Coleman farewell

We'd love to know just what Richard Keys' issue is with Newcastle United and anyone associated with it.

If he were a Mackem, we'd understand, but if memory serves me rightly, he's a Coventry City fan, a club with which Newcastle have zero beef.

There's the possibility that his problem with Newcastle stems from the fact that our owners are Saudi Arabian and his (current but not for much longer) bosses are Qatari, but if that's the case, then that's just pathetic.

It just seems that every time he mentions Newcastle, it's always at the very least a thinly veiled dig, but more often than not, there is no veil to speak of.

Richard Keys digs at Newcastle and Everton in one go

His latest swipe is one that comes with that veil attached, and if truth be told, there are two ways to look at what he said, and one is a swipe at Newcastle, and the other is a dig at Everton fans.

When writing in his blog about the departures of Kieran Trippier from Newcastle and Seamus Coleman from Everton, this is what the hirsute broadcaster had to say:

"One of these two players left their club this weekend, feted as a legend - Kieran Trippier, with 133 appearances for Newcastle over four and a half years.

"Seamus Coleman, with 373 appearances over 17 seasons. He’s Everton’s all-time PL appearance holder. It’s pretty obvious which one isn’t it? Yep - Trippier. 🤷‍♂️."

If it were anyone else, we'd say this wasn't about Newcastle

Some Newcastle fans will read what Keys said and take it as a dig that Newcastle fans put far too much emphasis on Trippier's relatively short time at the club when someone like Coleman gets a wave and a 'cheers' after 17 years.

If we're being honest, this does feel more like a go at Everton fans for not doing enough to honour Seamus Coleman, but they didn't have a great deal of time to prepare, to be fair to the Toffees. Coleman only announced his decision to leave the club days before Sunday's clash with Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Newcastle fans had plenty of time to prepare for Trippier's farewell with Wor Flags doing an excellent tribute to the right-back.

If we were fair and unbiased, we'd give Richard Keys the benefit of the doubt here, but as he's been so insufferable for so long, we're not going to give him the pass, so we'll leave it to you to make up your own mind on his true meaning behind that statement.