Tatsis walked out on Thursday, and two defeats explain why
Giannis Tatsis resigned as Apollon Kalamarias coach on Thursday 22 October after nine matches (3) (5). The club confirmed it in a statement: "Η ΠΑΕ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ ΚΑΛΑΜΑΡΙΑΣ ανακοινώνει την αποχώρηση του προπονητή της ομάδας Γιάννη Τάτση, μετά από παραίτηση που υπέβαλε ο ίδιος" (16). He was 56 and he did not wait to be pushed. That is the defining fact of Apollon's week.
Two games, two different ways to lose
Monday in Kalamaria, on the ground the two clubs share: ΠΑΟΚ Β' 2–1 Απόλλων Καλαμαριάς (1) (6). Ikobong scored on 12 minutes and Sifnaios made it two from the penalty spot on 20 (9). Apollon pulled one back with a penalty of their own and that was it. A game decided inside twenty minutes.
Saturday at home: Απόλλων Καλαμαριάς 0–2 Νίκη Βόλου (2) (8). Ligdas and Pamfidis scored. Niki Volou's goalkeeper Thanasis Garavelis called it a "σημαντική εκτός έδρας νίκη", a significant away win (4). Nobody at Apollon used the word significant about anything.
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Eight points. That is where this leaves them, level with PAOK B' (1) (6). Two straight defeats in Superbet League 2, both without a real foothold in the match.
The attack is the problem, and it was the problem before the coach left
Zero goals from open play across two games. One penalty at PAOK, nothing at home against Niki Volou. A coach rarely resigns after nine matches over a defensive wobble; he resigns when his team cannot score and he cannot find a way to change that. Tatsis made his call after one home performance in which Apollon created little and conceded twice (8). The squad has names, the goals have not followed.
Look at the rest of round 8 and the picture gets worse. Athens Kallithea 1–1 ΑΕΛ, Πanserraikos 3–2 Ellas Syrou, Olympiacos B 1–2 Nestos Chrysoupolis (5) (11). The teams around Apollon are taking points. Apollon are not.
What to watch
Who the club appoints, and how fast. Apollon have a squad that has now lost two in a row and a table position that reads 8 points level with a B team (1) (6). The first job for the new man is not shape or pressing. It is finding a forward who can score from open play, because a run like this in Superbet League 2 does not correct itself.
