Quote Originally Posted by 51Magpie View Post
Quote from the Nixon article: "He needs to be playing every week and Sunderland can’t offer him that right now."

Apparently we can? It seems doubtful that he's been offered a bench seat, though nothing should change the need to compete for places in the starting XI. It's rarely good when a position is uncontested.
I agree, but with the exception of goalkeepers. The goalkeeping position is a bit of a protected one. If the keeper is good he tends to keep his place regardless.
I will use Jordan Pickford as an example. He made numerous errors for Everton last season, which led to him being slammed in the press and for people calling for England to change. Everton ‘rested’ him for a game or 2 as Pickford searched for renewed confidence and then bought him back. Southgate didn’t flinch.
I think whilst keepers train well and continue to have self belief they keep their place.
I think Slocombe has had a rough ride with a few. He is a top keeper for our level. Yes he has made mistakes. Tell me a player in a Notts shirt who hasn’t.

When managers and coaches talk about competition for places, it’s more to do with pushing each other on the training ground. Brookes is still training at Notts. Kean trains at Notts.

So unless Slocombe is injured or shagged IB’s wife. He will start.