Super Sam Slocombe

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Sam hasn't had much first team football this season until Alex Bass was injured & many of the Notts fans were saying that losing Bass for probably the rest of the season was a big blow to Notts's promotion ambition..

However, Sam has come into the side & he has two clean sheets to his name in the three matches he has played since Bass's injury.

I am confident that Sam will be a good replacement for Bass during the run in till the end of the season. Do other Pride of Nottingham members agree or disagree with me?

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

He should never have been given a new contract after that Wembley appearance, when he froze

He nearly cost a goal with his footwork the other game.

A professional keeper but when did he last save a penalty?

I fear for our promotion chances

 

 

[DangerousSausage]

He's a good choice as far as backup goalkeepers in League Two go. He struggled last season due to a calamitous defence and the constant rotation with Stone; with a steadier defence in front of him, he'll do a steady enough job.

That said, he still has his "moments" and I'd be glad to see Bass back again.

[Simon Clark]

He's more of an old style goalkeeper rather than a ball playing one, and he doesn't seem so comfortable with the ball at his feet. But that part of his game has improved massively in the last couple of years and I can't imagine too many better number two keepers in L2. He seems a fantastic professional, brilliant to have a round the place to help the other keepers and focussed and ready to step up when needed, as he's proved.

His big failing is penalties, so if we have to go through the play offs, we'd better win in normal time!

[liampie]

i dont think a lot of the stick sam slocombe gets is fair, i can understand why people might think hes past his best or prone to mistakes but much of this is caused by us not playing to his strengths. expecting him to be comfortable to pass the ball with his feet, when this has never been a strong point is just a flaw in the tactics and i have been much happier to see that slocombe does not have to play it out like this. the mistake he made in the last game came from him being passed the ball, blame should be on both him and the defender, i think it was lewis macari and even though slocombe had time with a wandering striker its not the best idea when limited options are on.

as backup and to fill in, hes completely fine. he should be encouraged not constantly dismissed or called out for his lack of ability because hes has been a good servant and some fans just dont like him for whatever reason but it does become a player easily blamed.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I don't think it's constructive to pick at a keeper who's covering; the club clearly have faith, and I don't think all of the blame Sam Slocombe gets is fair.

Notts treated Aidan Stone awfully; some fans did, and somehow Slocombe has proved he can be called upon when he's needed. Two players like Alex Bass would be a luxury, but I agree with the sentiment that he's good enough to be back-up. I also echo that we should ensure that we play to his strengths. When you put your focus on tactics over ability, it will always lead to weaknesses.

Strengths must be factored in before you come up with a strategy and game plan. Under Luke Williams, Notts insisted that he had to play the ball out from the back, using his feet, and the problem more than anything is the players in front of him not making space. Bass becomes very vocal and annoyed when this happens; it's also part of why we concede because nobody is focusing on going forward.

Modern football sees good players who are approaching the end of their playing days disregarded and treated poorly. Slocombe is perfectly fine as a League Two keeper, and looks much better with our defensive improvements, but we need to stop this backward passing when teams are wise to the movement. It's just asking for mistakes, and whilst Slocombe might have plenty of time, we need to remember he's not comfortable in this scenerio.

You'd never insist a right-footed winger should use their left foot. Nor would you tell a striker to spend most of his time defending, at the cost of attacking. As I say, it's all about strengths, making space and working as a team.