Now Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish understands what life can be like working with Charles N'Zogbia.
N'Zogbia was fined and left out of the squad for Saturday's 1-0 home reverse against Manchester United after failing to turn up at Villa for medical treatment.
He has struggled to make an impact since his £9.5million summer switch from Wigan and been left out of the starting line-up in recent weeks.
Alex McLeish: "I've tried to encourage Charles at every turn. I'm not a tyrant. It is not me against Charles or any of my players.
"I try to give them total respect and we show them things privately. We don't disrespect them in front of the rest of the group.
"I hope he takes it [the punishment] on the chin. The players know we have got club rules and we will adhere to them.
"There are no grudges. I just want to see that boy go to another level, even improve on what he has done before.
"Charles has got to be receptive and realise I want to help him, and every single player at this club, because we need all the help we can get."
His team was booed of the pitch against Man Utd, and he knows he faces a big task to win over the fans.
Just like Steve Bruce at Sunderland, it's difficult making the swap between two passionate rivals.
Bruce's Geordie roots didn't go down well on Mackemland; and moving from Brum to Villa could prove a step too far for McLeish.
McLeish: "The boos did not upset me. In the first half, we didn't pass it well, gave the ball away. I don't think we really believed in ourselves.
"I was in unison with the fans on that one and the second half was better and the players went right to the very end which I would have demanded of every team I've coached or managed. We got that.
"I'm not going to criticise the fans. You know how difficult it was for me coming here in the first place and I've just got to persevere.
"I'm not a quitter and I'll go as far as I can to get this club turned around.
"But you know where you have to improve the quality, we have to make sure we defend with concentration and we've got to be a threat in the last third."
Source: FOOTYMAD
