Igor the Departed

[Mr Gogolak]

I actually saw some logic in his appointment. His win percentage at every other club would have been enough to keep us up, he had a reputation as a fire fighter, he’d kept Udinese (I think) up after being brought in late. The one unknown for me at the time was that I knew little of his demeanour or tactics which, in hindsight, were wrong for the club. But people have to remember that the alternatives being suggested at the time were tinkle poor.

I remember when he was appointed thinking “this will be grand, all we need is someone who isn’t Thomas Frank.” Hindsight obviously says it was the wrong appointment. In fact, it was pretty disastrous but I could see logic in it. I also hold no ill will towards him.

I don't follow Italian football enough to know whether that's still the case, but when Tudor was playing there, managers were highly respected people. Truth be told, I don't think he was too impressed with our players and our club culture which, at this point, was paradoxically closer to what you'd find in Croatian football and that players who move abroad learn to despise.

Apparently, he wasn't too kind to them, which (I think) is understable but it turns out that it wasn't what was needed. He also had to work on their fitness in January which, frankly, is unacceptable at this level. Last but not least, they were either unable to unwilling to adapt to his tactics and he obviously wasn't willing to compromise.

Despite failing to win a game, his tenure wasn't all bad. When he went back to something simpler, we got a good point at Anfield, with a decent performance to boot. It's also possible that the fitness work he did turned out to be useful at the end of the season, but you'd have to be much more closely associated with the club to know that for sure.