Saints once again take a large following to a pre season friendly, those fans will be hoping for a better display that the one they saw at the Kassam Stadium when their side handed Oxford United a two goal victory.

The big question to be answered at Millwall is whether this will be the game in pre season where Russell Martin stops playing a different side in each half and starts to play something resembling his preferred starting XI for the coming season.

The second question will revolve around the possession football game, one thing that has emerged from the previous friendlies and especially the defeat to Oxford was that Alex McCarthy is not comfortable playing the ball with his feet, the manager has a dilemma, does he water down the possession football strategy as he did at the end of last season, or does he find a new goalkeeper who can play it.

As it stands it seems that Alex McCarthy is his number one choice of the three options he has in goal, but there are serious questions being asked of his capabilities, both with his feet and for that matter with his hands.

You would hope that Russell Martin would by now be well aware of the issue and plans would be afoot to seek a new keeper either on a permanent or loan basis.

Put bluntly, if we start the season with McCarthy in goal, then we are in trouble.

This is not a rant about McCarthy who has been a good servant to the club, but during his time here, he has never established himself as the undisputed number one for a full season and with the need now for a keeper who can play with his feet, now is not the time for him to do so.

Further up the pitch the travelling fans will hope to get a glimpse of new signing Ben Brereton Diaz up front. He will offer options being able to play as a central striker or as a wide player.

At the back will it be a flat back four or three central defenders and wing backs employed, Martin has hinted that he will use both systems during the season.

Another question that needs to be addressed on two accounts is the players who have been conspicuous by their absence, both Kyle Walker Peters & Ross Stewart are yet to be seen in a pre season game, but no reasons have been offered for their absence, is it injury related or is it about whether they will be at the club for the coming season ?

Pre season stepped up a notch as Oxford and we were found wanting, it steps up another gear today, can we sort out the issues from the Kassam Stadium, that is all going to be answered by 3pm this afternoon.

Photo: Action Images

Chesham_Saint added 10:18 - Aug 3 At the beginning of last season McCarthy was not deemed good enough and was at best second choice. Through injury McCarthy got back in the team at the very end of the season and did a good job. This does not alter fact that if he wasn't supposedly good enough this time last year for the Championship, what has changed to make him good enough for the Premier League a year later? As for Manning - get rid, way below what we need.

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JoeEgg added 10:45 - Aug 3 A good summary of the current situation Nick. Another poor showing at Millwall will only confirm my serious concerns about our current prospects in the Premier League. I am very disappointed that the goalkeeper and goal scoring central striker positions have not been resolved. If Martin thinks that McCarthy is good enough for the top division then he will soon learn that he is very mistaken. I also fear that we will soon be crowning Manning as our mew midfield sensation, and of course, Captain Jack will return to provide another RM 'brilliant' performance! All I can see is a more than adequate Championship side emerging - but I thought we had progressed to the Premier League?

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Monksway added 11:51 - Aug 3 How poor must Lumley be in training if he doesn't even get a chance after Lis and McCarthy's displays. Hopefully the endless short passes in penalty area are just about giving McCarthy practice and won't happen at Newcastle!
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Monksway added 12:05 - Aug 3 I think this team looks close to starting lineup at Newcastle. 3-5-2 with BBD replacing Edozie.
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Colburn added 20:23 - Aug 3 Monksway, sadly I think you’re right. But I suppose we have little choice as we have replaced Fraser, Brooks, Adams and S Armstrong with Diaz and the return of Alcaraz, who looks more engaged in arguing with his oppo than anything else. So in fact we are weaker than last season when we finished 4th in the league below. The Onuachu situation has become a bit farcical and the other big deals we have missed out on show our lack of ambition or nous. I am very fearful of heading into the Newcastle game with that line up.

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