Maik Nawrocki

Put myself through the highlights there to get a reminder of some things...his block when that Cerny was through after Kasper gifting him it was * excellent. Superb anticipation and even pace to get across.

Not been a fan and wanted him gone but on that one showing yesterday am actually changing my mind on it. Would like to see him get some starts to see if he can build on it. He was brilliant yesterday.

 

That's an option definitely. I just think identifying whether Murray is going to help out squadwise is more valuable.

 

Our best player yesterday without a doubt. HH

 

Other than his lack of pace I haven't seen anything in the games he's played that makes me think this guy is *..if anything I think he's probably the best out of him scales and trusty with the ball at his feet..we paid 4.5 million for him so for him to get hardly any game time I find it quite strange.

 

I owe him an apology. I was * myself when I seen him on the pitch. And he was head and shoulders the best player at the back and the only one with pass marks. He was brave, he was canny and * me, he was definitely unfit and not match sharp (and that was utterly expected) and he was making sure that it didn’t matter.

Might have played himself into a chance at making it here

 

For me also it was extremely odd the way we played around him yesterday, the lack of times Schlupp threw the ball to him, the amount of times CCV passed to Schmeichel or Johnston instead of him.

It shows up big in the stats.

Johnston and CCV 198 passes, Nawrocki and Schlupp 128.

Johnston and CCV had 218 touches
Schlupp and Nawrocki had 161 touches

Our last home League game against Aberdeen

Johnston and CCV 200 passes, Trusty and Schlupp 207

Johnston and CCV had 218 touches the exact same as against the huns but
Schlupp and Trusty had 232 which was 71 more touches of the ball.

It backs up how it looked, very lopsided, massive pressure on CCV and Johnston who pretty much were trying to play out from the back by themselves, those two and Schmeichel panicking probably as there was some tactical decision to try and keep the ball away from Nawrocki which meant they were stuck on the ball often with limited options.

 

That’s really interesting and mental actually as despite his lack of game time the one attribute I would have said I was confident with Nawrocki would have been his passing out of defence. He has always shown a good ability to get the ball out his feet and fizz a decent mid range low pass into midfield.

 

Very similar to Lagerbielke.

Clearly weren't Rodgers signings and no matter what he's decided he wasn't going to play them. Tbh it's not ideal we have allow a managers ego to write off £7.5m worth of talent.

Both guys have shown they don't lack ability and fact that Scales is a regular over then shows there's more tonite than footballing ability

 

Lagerbielke is more understandable for me, he is a good defender, that doesn’t suit what we need off a defender in the slightest. That was bad scouting.

Nawrocki, last season he wasn’t available consistently and Rodgers has a history of writing off players that like. I can’t remember exact quote, and he wasn’t outright accusing him alone of it, but he made comments about players making themselves not available and needing to be able to do so. I thought it was aimed at him and Iwata, and I think that’s him judging there mentality, and questioning if they can play through the niggles and pain barrier that those guys who are always available play through.

Nawrocki when he played last season, after a promising start before his injury start of the season, was a bombscare. But yesterday makes me think I’ve harshly judged him on that, he never had the opportunity to play consistently but he wasn’t available for that either.

But he’s obviously doing well in the background, against Villa Dane Murray was ahead of him in the pecking order, Murray * it but Nawrocki has moved ahead of him since then, if he hasn’t reacted in training with the attitude of showing that he should be considered when he’s called on, even if he is a better player, Rodgers historically doesn’t give a * with that. He’d not play.

And yesterday, his attitude, bravery and ability he has played himself into making it here. 4th choice at the moment but when it’s 4 options for 2 spots, 4th choice can see a lot of games if they’re trusted.

 

He's slower than a week in the jail but solid enough. I prefer him over Scales, Welsh and Murray BUT I think that's only cause I've got a thing about Scales I have just never rated him. I genuinely wouldn't be fussed if we got rid and kept Scales though. Think there is hundreds of defenders like Nawrocki if the proper scouting is done. Maybe one with less injury issues?

 

R

Rusty and nervous. The boys hardly got a chance ffs. Rodgers has his favourites. Anyone can see. HH

 

Carter-Vickers looked like he was the one brought in from the cold out of the two of them.

 

Woooof - really interesting read.

It is only an interpretation, but I am guessing that "maybe" the other players were NOT trying to put the ball through Rocki as he had not played much, so not putting him under pressure - but it does not say a lot about trust and expectations in him, which you have to assume each player makes his own call from what they see in training etc.
I think Rocki showed enough on Sunday to closer to more game time.....but does the manager and/or the other players??

 

Think him being a right footer playing left centre back may have contributed to that too. Team are now very use to playing with a left footed CB for the past 2 seasons.

Angle of the pass and angle of his body position could also have impacted the lower number of passes in his direction