Match Ratings v Oldham away

[Notts78]

It wouldn't fundamentally change our style. With the system we play, we have at least six outfield options to play out from the back, so involving the goalkeeper (so frequently) is an unnecessary luxury not a necessity. Slocombe's mistakes are indeed down to decision-making and concentration, and therefore all the more reason not to ask him to do anything more than a goalkeeper actually needs to do. Every game, the more adventurous and involved he becomes, the more you can see it's a mistake waiting to happen. Mentally, he's caught between two roles, and one of them isn't his.

What is being asked of him is simple football. He’s not being asked to spray the ball 50-60 yards. He is asked to take a touch and pass to someone, normally 10-15 yards away. The funny thing about all this is that I am sure the stats would suggest he has a high pass percentage rate. Players of all positions will sometimes take a heavy touch or under/over hit a pass or misplace a pass.
Goalkeepers being asked to pass the ball is the modern way… it’s been forced by the pass back rule… and I like it. Football has evolved and keepers are having to do more work with ball at feet rather than being secluded from the rest of the playing squad to do keeper drills.
However, that all said, today was nothing to do with how we play. He attempted to dribble the ball rather than put his foot through the ball.

[kill_the_drum]

Slocombe should have put his foot through it, he will know that. He’s been very good this season, and made very few mistakes. We play out from the back, we’re top of the league, and have scored 65 goals. There’s nothing we should be looking to change. Both of their goals came from Austin then Ruben giving the ball away cheaply. It was reminiscent of last season. Other than that we had total control.
The ‘10 minute wonder’ had a very good game.
I thought Ruben had one of his poorer games and Scott looked sharp when he came on.

[jackal2]

However, that all said, today was nothing to do with how we play. He attempted to dribble the ball rather than put his foot through the ball.

And why did he try to dribble the ball rather than put his foot through it? I suspect because he thinks he's got to 'be brave on the ball' and try to do something more constructive if he can, which is a judgement call he's sometimes going to get wrong, because he doesn't have the skills and judgement of an outfield player. I can't think of any other reason why a goalkeeper would not just boot it if he's in any danger.

I don't think our style of play does actually 'depend' on Slocombe getting involved so often, in fact I think it's often a negative move and an over elaboration. However, I suspect others above are right that we'll continue to do it, and I'm equally sure we'll continue to concede some foolish goals because of it. Let's just hope they aren't the goals that cost us points and promotion, eh?

[ForeignLegion]

Whenever I watch the 3 minute highlights packages of many of the games throughout the entire leagues, a soon as I see the keeper and back line playing it amongst themselves, I know a goal against is about to happen; most teams try to do it and invariably there is a balls up somewhere.

[SmiffyPie]

It wasn't a concious attempt to dribble or play the ball out, he failed to control his first touch by 6 yards. He gifted the goal by his poor play and decision making.
Slocombe's distribution should be restricted to underarm/throwing the ball or close passing to feet if there is no opposition close by. Anything else should be landing in row Z or the oppositions box.
Points dropped through absolute carelessness.

[eastwoodmagpie]

Slocombe 5 - Why?
Nemane 8 - MOM Two very nice assists, our main source of danger all game long
Brindley 5 - Can we up the interest level a notch or two, please?
Baldwin 7 - Super-poised for 95% of the game. Still has a mistake in him, and could be more assertive with his forward runs.
Bajrami 5 - Clumsy moments let him down
Cameron 6 - No lack of effort, on the ball a tonne, but didn't use it all that well.
Palmer 7 - Industrious, neat and tidy as ever. Some killer balls too
Bostock 6 - OK for a league debut, but recycle, recycle, recycle..
Rodrigues 5 - Played badly
Austin 6 - Beavered away, looked good on the ball for most of the first half
Langstaff 6 - He put us ahead and that should've won the game for us. So in short, he did his job.

Subs
Scott 7 - Just scored a double, so naturally we bench him. Would've had another double if he'd been allowed more than 30mins
O'Brien 5 - Was brought on to see the game out, then could do nothing to help when we had to chase.
Castro 6 - Not on long, but that reverse ball to Cameron should've resulted in a goal.

Got to agree about Brindley seems very casual in matches mainly passing back or sideways , he also gives attackers to much room, would like to see him get closer in matches,

[PedroTheFisherman66]

just seen the highlights and i have to say that it as never a penalty , if anything it was a free kick to us as he took Cameron out as he was taking a tumble !
Also i think Slocombe has taken a bit of unfair flack about the goal ! yes he should have put is boot through it and put it down the pitch or in the stand. However the situation was all in hand as Cameron took control of the ball and situation and cocked it up !

[matt_magpie]

just seen the highlights and i have to say that it as never a penalty , if anything it was a free kick to us as he took Cameron out as he was taking a tumble !
Also i think Slocombe has taken a bit of unfair flack about the goal ! yes he should have put is boot through it and put it down the pitch or in the stand. However the situation was all in hand as Cameron took control of the ball and situation and cocked it up !

He seems to take a lot of unfair stick to me and rarely praised when he has faultless games. One thing I have noticed in this league is not many keepers stick out as being top notch. That said we shouldn’t accept poor levels but I think he probably is one of the better ones in the league. If there’s better out there and we can get them then we should like every other position, but he does need a bit more competition probably though aside from that.

[pjace]

Football is about making decisions good and bad and Sam knows he made a bad one it just needed him to put his foot through it end of.

The penalty well players pull and hold at every corner and free kick that was no worse than we see every game in fact it wasnt as bad as most very poor decision by the ref

[ncfcog]

Think AC has got it pretty much spot on. As for Slocombe he made a decision to leave his box and deal with the threat, had he controlled it better and managed to find a Notts player everyone would have been singing his praises. I like Slocombe, think he's a decent keeper, especially at this level, my only concern with him is penalties, never looks like he's going to get anywhere near one.