Blackburn Rovers blog: Warnock has changed his tune

4:00pm Thursday 13th October 2011 in Andy Cryer's Blackburn Rovers blog Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

LOVE him or hate him, Neil Warnock certainly has the ability to wind opposing fans up and get the nation talking.

Who can forget the last time a side of his locked horns with Blackburn Rovers? A low key FA Cup clash ended up as national back page headlines back in December.

There were some who were not complaining too much when he labelled former Rovers midfielder El-Hadji Diouf a ‘sewer rat’ either.

After all, Dioufy has attracted his fair share of headlines in the past as well.

No-one knows what exactly went on back at Ewood apart from those on the pitch.

Warnock claimed Diouf taunted QPR striker Jamie Mackie while he was lying in the ground with a broken leg, while the midfielder strenuously denied the allegations.

Whatever happened, we do know that Warnock said Diouf was the ‘lowest of the low’ and that there was no place for him in the English game.

Fast forward eight months and Mr Warnock needs to take a good hard look at himself.

So Diouf doesn’t deserve another chance but Joey Barton does?

His signing of Barton smacks a little bit of hypocrisy to me.

Diouf is certainly no angel, but it would take some going to top Barton’s list of bad-boy antics.

Stabbing a cigar out in a team-mate’s eye back in 2004, arrested for common assault and affray, and charged with violent conduct by the FA are just some of the QPR midfielder’s career misdemeanours.

So it seems the ever controversial Mr Warnock is ready to see the best in people when it suits.

How would he react if Steve Kean launched a verbal assault at Barton on Saturday?

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for giving footballers a second chance.

After all, most of them are just ordinary young men with an extraordinary talent and huge amounts of money.

It could turn anyone’s head.

Diouf has paid for his string of bad boy antics with no Premier League club prepared to take the gamble on him despite his obvious talent.

I am left scratching my head at how Barton continues to earn a living at the top of the game.

In any other walk of life he would be struggling.

Fair play to Newcastle United for finally taking a stand against a player who showed no gratitude to them for all the chances they gave him.

It is just a pity Warnock seems to have lost those morals he was so adamant about the last time Rovers played QPR.

Don’t be surprised to see either Barton or Warnock make the headlines on Saturday but the problem with this duo is it is just as likely to be for bad reasons as good ones.

Football needs all sorts but give me the top professionals that Rovers have in their squad any day.

Comments (13)

4:14pm Thu 13 Oct 11

Dukes says...

Warnock likes running things in and he has got a big gob on him and people don't like him.

hopefully 3 points will make Neil Warnock shut up once and for all.
Warnock likes running things in and he has got a big gob on him and people don't like him. hopefully 3 points will make Neil Warnock shut up once and for all. Dukes

4:56pm Thu 13 Oct 11

makaveli96 says...

Lets be fair hes from Yorkshire. His opinions dont even count!

In fact he's a traitor to his county. Why would anyone from the north move down south?

Hope Diouf has his number!
Lets be fair hes from Yorkshire. His opinions dont even count! In fact he's a traitor to his county. Why would anyone from the north move down south? Hope Diouf has his number! makaveli96

5:41pm Thu 13 Oct 11

jogalot says...

Unfortunately I think Barton will let his skill do the talking on Saturday. We haven't got a midfielder as good. EHD would have marked him out of the game (marks on his legs and body that is:) but I am not confident Rovers midfield is good enough to cope with him. Cue Warnock after the game justifying buying him.
.
(Pessimistically) Come on Rovers!!!!
Unfortunately I think Barton will let his skill do the talking on Saturday. We haven't got a midfielder as good. EHD would have marked him out of the game (marks on his legs and body that is:) but I am not confident Rovers midfield is good enough to cope with him. Cue Warnock after the game justifying buying him. . (Pessimistically) Come on Rovers!!!! jogalot

6:35pm Thu 13 Oct 11

rover-till-dudp says...

Just a reminder what a nasty piece of work Neil Warnock is, below is one of many unsavory incidents reported by former retired FA referee Graham Poll involving NW. He was later banned for 3 games.

“Warnock behaved himself until just before half-time when Craig Short of Sheffield United and Leeds' Gary Kelly went for a 50-50 ball. Paul Robinson, the fourth official, called me over and reported that Warnock had shouted: 'Next time I hope he (Kelly) breaks his f***ing leg.'

"What a viciously spiteful thing to say about any player. I sent Warnock to the stand - one of the easiest decisions I had to make in 27 years - but he complained that the fourth official had it in for him and refused to go. He was out of control”

Talk about ‘the pot calling the kettle black’.
Just a reminder what a nasty piece of work Neil Warnock is, below is one of many unsavory incidents reported by former retired FA referee Graham Poll involving NW. He was later banned for 3 games. “Warnock behaved himself until just before half-time when Craig Short of Sheffield United and Leeds' Gary Kelly went for a 50-50 ball. Paul Robinson, the fourth official, called me over and reported that Warnock had shouted: 'Next time I hope he (Kelly) breaks his f***ing leg.' "What a viciously spiteful thing to say about any player. I sent Warnock to the stand - one of the easiest decisions I had to make in 27 years - but he complained that the fourth official had it in for him and refused to go. He was out of control” Talk about ‘the pot calling the kettle black’. rover-till-dudp

8:14pm Thu 13 Oct 11

Rover Pete says...

Rover Pete
It is 8p.m. on Thursday and there has been no word at all about the forthcoming game at QPR or any other subject from our 'brilliant' manager. Has he been trussed up, gagged and locked up? Does anyone know where he is? His mouth has been ever open from months. Has he already been spirited away, never to be seen again. Oh! if it where true. But, seriously, something or someone has made him change. Role on the Spurs game and we can all give him a wave goodbye.
Rover Pete It is 8p.m. on Thursday and there has been no word at all about the forthcoming game at QPR or any other subject from our 'brilliant' manager. Has he been trussed up, gagged and locked up? Does anyone know where he is? His mouth has been ever open from months. Has he already been spirited away, never to be seen again. Oh! if it where true. But, seriously, something or someone has made him change. Role on the Spurs game and we can all give him a wave goodbye. Rover Pete

10:10pm Thu 13 Oct 11

Dickiepayshey says...

Who really gives a tinker's cuss what that airhead thinks or says ?
Who really gives a tinker's cuss what that airhead thinks or says ? Dickiepayshey

10:54pm Thu 13 Oct 11

Dai Darwen says...

What a thought Kean out Warnock in. Loser out winner in. Messrs Dalglish and Ferguson are not squeeky clean either. They just like winning - Kean a 100% loser. Get a winner in !!!!!!
What a thought Kean out Warnock in. Loser out winner in. Messrs Dalglish and Ferguson are not squeeky clean either. They just like winning - Kean a 100% loser. Get a winner in !!!!!! Dai Darwen

8:48am Fri 14 Oct 11

ragodley1987 says...

'A low key FA Cup clash ended up as national back page headlines back in December.'

'Fast forward eight months and Mr Warnock needs to take a good hard look at himself.'

First time I remember in my lifetime time 3rd round day being in December...And I thought we were in October which is the 10th month of the year?

Either way, I couldn't care less about Neil Warnock. Fact is we're in the relegation zone and need to desperately win on Saturday, and that's what we should be focussing on.
'A low key FA Cup clash ended up as national back page headlines back in December.' 'Fast forward eight months and Mr Warnock needs to take a good hard look at himself.' First time I remember in my lifetime time 3rd round day being in December...And I thought we were in October which is the 10th month of the year? Either way, I couldn't care less about Neil Warnock. Fact is we're in the relegation zone and need to desperately win on Saturday, and that's what we should be focussing on. ragodley1987

9:00am Fri 14 Oct 11

RobbyRover says...

Say what you like about Warnock, I'd rather have him as a manager than Donut...
Say what you like about Warnock, I'd rather have him as a manager than Donut... RobbyRover

9:26am Fri 14 Oct 11

saint.george says...

Is this really relevant ?
Is this really relevant ? saint.george

9:26am Fri 14 Oct 11

harwoodblue says...

On a different note my little lad came home from school yesterday and said "Dad Blackburn are rubbish I want to support Liverpool instead". That your fault Steve Kean you muppet, I spent years convincing him that Blackburn was his team, I bought him the shirts, the bedding, painted his bedroom walls blue and white and then you DONUT come along and naff up all my hard work.


PS does anyone have the phone number of an orphanage preferably in Liverpool?
On a different note my little lad came home from school yesterday and said "Dad Blackburn are rubbish I want to support Liverpool instead". That your fault Steve Kean you muppet, I spent years convincing him that Blackburn was his team, I bought him the shirts, the bedding, painted his bedroom walls blue and white and then you DONUT come along and naff up all my hard work. PS does anyone have the phone number of an orphanage preferably in Liverpool? harwoodblue

9:34am Fri 14 Oct 11

chromesub says...

So the stats say

QPR have not beaten Blackburn in any of the last four meetings between the sides.

Will this continue this week?
So the stats say QPR have not beaten Blackburn in any of the last four meetings between the sides. Will this continue this week? chromesub

9:46am Mon 17 Oct 11

manyarecalled says...

those who were at the match saw that a vicious tackle resulted in the tackler breaking his leg. Diouf probably commented on the stupidity of it.
anyone would have done.
it has happened to Mark Hughes and Gary Speed . why Diouf had to go is probably down to Venkys. Indian culture is all about kowtowing in the caste system , and Diouf is not acceptable to them. I suspect Kean had to bow to their wishes. a class forward is not who you want to get rid of when fighting for your life.
those who were at the match saw that a vicious tackle resulted in the tackler breaking his leg. Diouf probably commented on the stupidity of it. anyone would have done. it has happened to Mark Hughes and Gary Speed . why Diouf had to go is probably down to Venkys. Indian culture is all about kowtowing in the caste system , and Diouf is not acceptable to them. I suspect Kean had to bow to their wishes. a class forward is not who you want to get rid of when fighting for your life. manyarecalled

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