Let Slocombe be a goalkeeper

[jackal2]

This is intended as a constructive criticism, in no way intended to deny the rosiness of our overall situation at present, but they do say there's always lessons to learn and things to improve, and for me this is a key one at the moment.

Asking Sam Slocombe to play out from the back has now cost us goals in two away games, and there have been other risky moments. The guy's doing his best to use his feet and he's improved a bit, but everyone can see it's not really natural to him, and the risk - apart from giving away goals - is that it starts to undermine his overall confidence as a goalkeeper.

Sam's a perfectly reasonable goalkeeper for this level, but just let him be that and do what he does well. I've got no problem with him throwing/bowling the ball out to the centre-halves or wing-backs as all 'keepers can, or kicking it long, but we've had enough evidence now to know that his passing is inconsistent, and it isn't essential to us playing out from the back anyway.

Just let the lad do what it says on the tin and be a goalkeeper.

[laddo]

Agree that it's clearly not his natural game and could easily effect his overall confidence after any mistake. I like Sam as a traditional keeper maybe we need an upgrade if that's the approach.

One thing we can't do often is 'kick it long' , as we saw at Woking whenever we were forced to go long we barely won the aerial battle, maybe twice all game. Who are we kicking to? Scott, Langstaff, Chicksen and Nemane :/

Obviously the goal we conceded was a shocker, he should in hindsight have just smashed it instead of his floated attempt out wide. However, our regular roll or pass out to a defender after dragging out their main striker helped open up the pitch. They high pressed every time Sam had the ball and it left gaps, and one on ones which with quick passing could be exploited.

[magpie_mania]

This is intended as a constructive criticism, in no way intended to deny the rosiness of our overall situation at present, but they do say there's always lessons to learn and things to improve, and for me this is a key one at the moment.

Asking Sam Slocombe to play out from the back has now cost us goals in two away games, and there have been other risky moments. The guy's doing his best to use his feet and he's improved a bit, but everyone can see it's not really natural to him, and the risk - apart from giving away goals - is that it starts to undermine his overall confidence as a goalkeeper.

Sam's a perfectly reasonable goalkeeper for this level, but just let him be that and do what he does well. I've got no problem with him throwing/bowling the ball out to the centre-halves or wing-backs as all 'keepers can, or kicking it long, but we've had enough evidence now to know that his passing is inconsistent, and it isn't essential to us playing out from the back anyway.

Just let the lad do what it says on the tin and be a goalkeeper.

Can't agree. If our plan is to have a keeper who plays it out then that's how it should stay.

I like Sam though and I do think he was put under needless pressure by the ball played back to him on Saturday. But we can't change the game plan to suit one player.

[jackal2]

Can't agree. If our plan is to have a keeper who plays it out then that's how it should stay.

I like Sam though and I do think he was put under needless pressure by the ball played back to him on Saturday. But we can't change the game plan to suit one player.

We don't have to change the gameplan, at least not that much. If you're playing with three across the back (five at times) than there's no shortage of genuine outfield footballers to take control of the ball and pass it. A high number of the passes back to Slocombe are actually not necessary and it can become a bad habit to go back to the keeper rather than play the more positive pass.

I think we were spoiled last season by having Anthony Patterson, who even as a youngster was clearly playing below his level for his goalkeeping ability and was very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Most goalkeepers at this level are not that accomplished. You have to shape your tactics to play to their strengths and hide their weaknesses, not unnecessarily expose them.

[Notts78]

We don't have to change the gameplan, at least not that much. If you're playing with three across the back (five at times) than there's no shortage of genuine outfield footballers to take control of the ball and pass it. A high number of the passes back to Slocombe are actually not necessary and it can become a bad habit to go back to the keeper rather than play the more positive pass.

I think we were spoiled last season by having Anthony Patterson, who even as a youngster was clearly playing below his level for his goalkeeping ability and was very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Most goalkeepers at this level are not that accomplished. You have to shape your tactics to play to their strengths and hide their weaknesses, not unnecessarily expose them.

Our strength is our passing. When the ball does go long it’s normally in the direction of the wing backs who are high up the pitch, who rarely win the ball aerially.
I have no problem with how we play. It’s easier at home as our pitch will never be an issue that impacts our passing. SS is more than capable of playing the way he is being asked technically, the issue is his composure. If he can’t sort that out then he needs to be replaced. What I would say is, he has the ball more than most and any mistake is punished, where others get away with it.

[Eastcoastultra1977]

Never mind if you like him or not, as i have said many ,many times before he is a fg liability.
Imagine his errors coming in an important game at Wrexham or Chesterfield or God forbid a play off game.Mark my words he will cost us big time.
Get a decent keeper ffs NOW.

[1955pie]

I think Notts might have Brad Young from Leicester starting on Saturday. Be interesting to see how that works out.

[Magpies1959]

Unfortunately I do not think it is possible to just let SS be a goalkeeper. Using the keeper as another passing option is etched into the way we play and is a big part of our successful start to the season. As much as I like Slocombe, if he is not comfortable, or good enough with his feet, we will have to look for another keeper. Not ideal midway through a season.

[kill_the_drum]

I have no issue with what Slocombe is doing.
The goal against Dorking, Palmer seemed to slip and Saturday was an under hit back pass. It’s a high risk tactic but a necessary one IMO.
Most teams we play sit back and try and compact the final third. Our movement starts at the back to draw them out and create spaces. And it works. The problem is by the time we score a goal nobody remembers that’s how it often started.

[irishpete]

To me Slocombe is a good "shot stopper" but "a flapper" in the box. What we have to remember is SS is old school goal keeping & is now being asked to play a completely different game to what some of us were used to them playing. At times when playing across the back & being pressed, he is playing as a sweeper & under immense pressure as unable to pick the ball up.