Richard Keys is back, and he’s got a fresh conspiracy theory for us.
Last time we heard from the former Sky Sports presenter, he warned of ‘dark forces’ at work in the broadcasting giant, and the unprofessional nature of his former colleague Jamie Redknapp.
Now Keys has returned with news of a Machiavellian plot to rid English football of Steven Gerrard, led by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. The beIN Sports presenter says there’s been a ‘war’ at Anfield between the two, and Rodgers has won.
Keys posted a story this morning, titled ‘I don’t blame Stevie G’, on his blog ‘Your Key to sports’, which features a picture of a key in place of the word ‘key’ and if you don’t believe us, here’s the masthead.
The 57 year old is writing about Gerrard’s sending off against Manchester United yesterday and his upcoming departure from Liverpool, blaming Rodgers for both.
“But there was something else that slipped through in the post match i/view that struck a chord with me – ‘I don’t want to say anything else right now’, he [Gerrard] added, after bravely facing the cameras and taking full responsibility for a moment of madness.”
‘What is it that Gerrard wants to say? I’ll tell you what I think it is. He’s steaming mad at the scandalous way he’s been treated by specifically Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool in general.
“Rodgers has won his war with Gerrard. The skipper is out of the club at the end of the season. And make no mistake, despite Rodgers’ efforts to blame ‘time’ for Gerrard’s decision to leave HE is to blame. He’s won the war, but he lost Sunday’s battle. And it could yet be a very costly battle to have lost.”
Keys seems to know something observers of the situation don’t. There’s never been any suggestion of a rift between Rodgers and Gerrard, the Liverpool skipper even said, after announcing his departure in January, that he wished the current Liverpool boss had have been his manager when he was in his prime.
There have been suggestions that the club were slow in offering a new deal, but never any reports of a ‘war’ between the skipper and Rodgers. However, Keys is adamant Gerrard is hiding his true feelings, and the truth about his heinous treatment by the club will eventually surface.
“Rodgers wanted him out” Keys continues. “With Carragher already gone Rodgers knew that with Gerrard on the way out too, the club was now his – all his“. Seemingly Keys views Rodgers as though he’s Gollum from the Lord of the Rings in this scenario. Gerrard is the noble Frodo and Carrageher his pal Samwise Gamgee. Rodgers wants Liverpool, i.e the One Ring, and Gerrard is in his way, so he must get rid of him.
“Gerrard used his mate Carragher as his mouthpiece to hint at what was going on whilst remaining publicly very dignified,” Keys continues. “Rodgers has continued to heap praise on his inspirational skipper whilst quietly continuing to humiliate and frustrate him whenever he could”.
Keys cites Rodgers decision to drop Gerrard for the Champions League game away to Real Madrid as evidence of this shoddy treatment and claims the Liverpool manager was indirectly responsible for Gerrard’s sending-off by not starting him yesterday.
“Gerrard HAD to start against Manchester United. HAD to. It was a game that his name stamped all over it. Liverpool NEEDED their captain for this one…They were ordinary the previous weekend at Swansea. What was the answer? Send for Gerrard. His presence calmed them, gave them some structure, and they won. I’m sorry, they’re simply not good enough without him right now”.
Keys goes on to call claims that Jordan Henderson is developing into a dominant presence in midfield is ‘nonsense’ and he seems to consider Gerrard as one of humanity’s finest.
“Liverpool have let him go far too soon. I accept that he’s not the force he once was, but he’s still a force. His very presence at the club is a force. People listen to him, which is why Rodgers doesn’t want him there anymore”.
“Gerrard held his tongue at the weekend, as he has done since announcing ‘his’ decision to move on. I can’t wait to hear what he really has to say!”
So there you have it. Gerrard, like Richard Keys, is the victim of a calculated, Machiavellian plot.
Meanwhile, Keys is wasted in Qatar, someone get this man a HBO series.
If you want to read the entire post in all it’s brilliance, here you go.
