El-Hadji Diouf. Neil Warnock. Its a recipe for disaster, but of course these two volatile characters were going to clash at some point during their respective careers. What makes this example stand out, however, is that Warnock wasnt lumped with the stroppy Senegalese forward after making inflammatory comments about him - he actually went out and bought him of his own accord, having branded him a sewer rat. It was an FA Cup tie between QPR and Blackburn in January 2011, when Warnock launched an astonishing barb at Diouf following the Senegal internationals heinous decision to abuse QPR forward Jamie Mackie as he lay sprawled on the turf with a broken leg.
''The lads were furious with El-Hadji Diouf, he had broken his leg and he is calling him all sorts on the pitch. There was no need to put the finger up and call him a disgrace and even the Blackburn people were embarrassed. For many years, I have thought he was the gutter type - I was going to call him a sewer rat but that might be insulting to sewer rats. I think he is the lowest of the low. I hope he goes abroad because I wont miss watching him. He is a nasty little person. - Neil Warnock, January 2011.
In September 2012, Warnock pulled off the biggest hypocritical move of his life by signing the man he was spewing bile about not two years earlier. Then at Leeds United, Warnock hailed him as a matador, and claimed that hell get him fit and hell be surprised how good hell be.
''Nobodys said more about him than me, but I met him in the summer and, after I had told him some home truths, we got on. - Neil Warnock, September 2012.
I dont think anybodys surprised by that, Neil.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
