Newcastle United 1 v 0 Southampton FA Premier League Saturday, 17th August 2024 Kick-off 15:00 | ![]() |
Southampton V Millwall The Preview Saturday, 3rd Aug 2024 09:36 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 Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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