El Hadji Diouf

He’s an arsehole off the pitch but he helped take the spotlight off of a squad of players at the time who didn’t look like they were going to win the league. A Walter masterstroke, he knew Diouf could handle the abuse that would come his way.

He was brought in and his distraction helped that group of players find some confidence and beat them to the title that season.
 
Ah the El Hadgi Diouf or affectionatly known as El Hadgi Usher in Partick. Long story short but a few of us were working in Antwerp when he signed. Managed to get his shirt from his second game. In Schippol airport on our return flight and we bump into the bold usher. Got him to sign it. Pretty sure it’s still the only signed diouf top by usher on the planet
 
TheMandalorian said:
For me, he was one of our best signings in the last decade from an off-field point of view. The players were struggling under the pressure at that time and the managerial genius that was Walter Smith recognised that. With one swift signing, he took all the heat from the squad and dumped it firmly on the shoulders of a man who he knew could handle it. The media had it in for him from day 1, the mentally challengeds hated him - and he in turn hated them right back. Him lording it over that halfwit Broony with a league and cup double was tremendous B-D
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The media had it in for him from day 1,

As did Neil Warnock, left Diouffy without a name, and then he later signed him for Leeds.

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
UPDATED: 13:26, 9 January 2011

'For many years I have thought he (Diouf) 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 and I can't see him being at Blackburn much longer because I can't see Steve Kean putting up with someone like that in the dressing room when he is trying to form a new image for Blackburn.

'I think he will be the first to go and good riddance - I hope he goes abroad because I won't miss watching him. He is a nasty little person.'
 
Steve Kean hahaha. Remember that dithering twat. The fantasist that was telling blokes in a pub how he harnessed Phil Jones’ talent. Probably doesn’t seem as much of a brag now as it did then.

Blackburn fans loathed him, think they all knew he had no business getting that gig. And I don’t remember all the details but I’m sure he was a bit sneaky in the way he acquired that position too.
 
Micah Bell said:
Steve Kean hahaha. Remember that dithering twat. The fantasist that was telling blokes in a pub how he harnessed Phil Jones’ talent. Probably doesn’t seem as much of a brag now as it did then.

Blackburn fans loathed him, think they all knew he had no business getting that gig. And I don’t remember all the details but I’m sure he was a bit sneaky in the way he acquired that position too.
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On 15 August 2011, Kean was convicted of drink driving at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court. The Court rejected his defence that his drinks had been spiked following a match against Manchester United. He was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1,800

The old "it wisnae me guv" excuse that they seem so adept at employing...
 
Great goal away to Sporting Lisbon after Steven Davis put it on a sixpence for him , what a ball what a header and what a night we had in Lisbon it was pure class !
 
Was he our best ever player, or outstanding?

No.

Was he mince or terrible as some are pretending?

Also no - they are rewriting history.

There are many levels of performance below a 10 and a 0. He wasn't mince. Overall his contribution was very positive to our club.
 
Micah Bell said:
Steve Kean hahaha. Remember that dithering twat. The fantasist that was telling blokes in a pub how he harnessed Phil Jones’ talent. Probably doesn’t seem as much of a brag now as it did then.

Blackburn fans loathed him, think they all knew he had no business getting that gig. And I don’t remember all the details but I’m sure he was a bit sneaky in the way he acquired that position too.
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He was Michael Beale before Michael Beale.
 
It's ironic that Diouf is remembered and castigated for spitting on an opposing team's fan. Now, I am not condoning Diouf's behaviour which was vile and disgusting after his pace took him into the crowd and a fan 'patted' him on the head. Diouf's solicitor, Joe Beltrami stated in his client's defence that in Senegalese culture it was "degrading, insulting and patronising" to be touched in such a way on the back of the head because in past years slave traders had done that.

However, Eric Cantona karate-kicks a verbally abusive fan at Crystal Palace and goes on to become one of Manchester United Greatest Ever players. Of course Cantona jusififyably received a lengthy ban but Man Utd and manager Alex Ferguson stood by him. Cantona got which most offenders deserve, the proverbial second chance probably because of his great skill and importance to Man Utd.

On a side but connected issue we have another spitting incident where Celtic's new signing, Chris Sutton grogs on a man with his family coming out of restaurant after words are exchanged.

Sutton is rightly fined in a court of law but goes on to have a career playing for Celtic then later in football punditry.

Three 'similar' incidents involving involving certain teams, players and opposing fans. I reckon Diouf perhaps inexplicably suffered the most. Cantona and Sutton less so due to a compliant media not willing to cross Alex Ferguson or those I/c of Celtic at the time.

I like to think that Walter Smith signed Diouf for many of the reasons stated in this thread but also because he was a player who deserved his second chance at a big club like Rangers similar to what Cantona and Sutton got at their respective clubs.
 
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bearmind said:
It's ironic that Diouf is remembered and castigated for spitting on an opposing team's fan. Now, I am not condoning Diouf's behaviour which was vile and disgusting after his pace took him into the crowd and a fan 'patted' him on the head. Diouf's solicitor, Joe Beltrami stated in his client's defence that in Senegalese culture it was "degrading, insulting and patronising" to be touched in such a way on the back of the head because in past years slave traders had done that.

However, Eric Cantona karate-kicks a verbally abusive fan at Crystal Palace and goes on to become one of Manchester United Greatest Ever players. Of course Cantona jusififyably received a lengthy ban but Man Utd and manager Alex Ferguson stood by him. Cantona got which most offenders deserve, the perverbial second chance probably because of his great skill and importance to Man Utd.

On a side but connected issue we have another spitting incident where Celtic's new signing, Chris Sutton grogs on a man with his family coming out of restaurant after words are exchanged.

Sutton is rightly fined in a court of law but goes on to have a career playing for Celtic then later in football punditry.

Three 'similar' incidents involving involving certain teams, players and opposing fans. I reckon Diouf perhaps inexplicably suffered the most. Cantona and Sutton less so due to a compliant media not willing to cross Alex Ferguson or those I/c of Celtic at the time.

I like to think that Walter Smith signed Diouf for many of the reasons stated in this thread but also because he was a player who deserved his second chance at a big club like Rangers similar to what Cantona and Sutton got at their respective clubs.
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Be careful. I mentioned the spitting incident and my comment was deleted. I think we’re perhaps meant to pretend it didn’t happen.
 
McQueen said:
Be careful. I mentioned the spitting incident and my comment was deleted. I think we’re perhaps meant to pretend it didn’t happen.
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There's numerous references on this thread to his off field behaviours

So probably how you posted rather than what you posted
 
It looked like we wouldn't get near Celtic after the 2-0 and 3-0 defeats but something seemed to click after the infamous game Diouf got sent off. We were rubbish again that night but could have nicked something.

Then came the League Cup final, which felt like a huge breakthrough for the team. The introduction of Wylde and the balance he gave the team went a long way as well.
 
We played Celtic 7 times that season and won twice. The 2nd one was the league cup final which really helped swing momentum back towards us. We were under massive pressure from the media and Diouf by just being there helped take it off the other players. It was more of an off-field move than anything. Jelavic and Lafferty clicking into form too. A final roll of the dice from the Godfather to win and it certainly worked.
https://www.tiktok.com/video/7196777489497099526
 
Micah Bell said:
Who gives a flying %^*& what Gerrard thought though? Walter liked him enough to bring on him on board and give him a pat on the back at the end so that means a lot more to me, as it should any Rangers fan.
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Not sure Walter liking him was a factor tbh. Lets just leave it that I didn't like him and felt he contributed very little and that you thought the opposite.
 
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