Saints have kicked off their pre season programme with a behind closed doors friendly against Portugese club Benfica, although not a lot can be gained from this game, given the number of players who are unlikely to be still at St Mary's come September.

It was not just a game of two halves, but two halves of two teams, as Saints played an almost different XI in the second 45 minutes than they started the first with.

The line ups were as follows.

Saints first half: McCarthy, Bree, Lyanco, Stephens, Maghoma, Alcaraz, Ward-Prowse, Doyle, Amo-Ameyaw, Mara, Dibling.

Saints second half: Bazunu, Livramento, Ćaleta-Car, Salisu, Walker-Peters, Smallbone, Lavia (Doyle 75), A. Armstrong, Amo-Ameyaw (Dibling 70), Adams, Djenepo.

It was a mixed side in each half and there was little to be found in terms of who would be staying or going, Indeed 4 of the Academy youngsters were in the starting XI.

Notable abscences from the two teams selected where Bella-Kotchap, Stuart Armstrong, Kamaldeen Sulemana. Dominic Ballard, Ibrahima Diallo, Jan Bednarek, Joe Aribo, Nathan Tella & Sam Edozie as well of as course the two new players signed this week.

The fact that we could use 21 players in this game and still be missing 9 of our squad players is perhaps testament to how bloated our squad was last season, of course some of these have only just returned back to training and i'm sure Russell Martin wanted to keep things simple and not also make multiple substitutions.

Benfica opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Neres fired home with a shot that was just inside Alex McCarthy's left hand post, you felt that the keeper was slightly out of position.

Benfica dominated the game and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead on the stroke of half time, this time it was Ristic who scored, firing a shot across goal that beat McCarthy' despairing left hand and to be blunt was not something we have not seen before.

The second half was all change, but Saints dug in and made sure that the score did not get any worse, Gavin Bazunu making a superb save to block a close range effort.

As I said nothing much to be gained from this game, we included players who will not be here this coming season and we were missing some who may well be staying, it was about Russell Martin getting a look at his squad and also getting them to play the possession based football that became his trademark at both MK Dons and Swansea City

Photo: Action Images

dirk_doone added 21:32 - Jul 12 The best thing that happened was McCarthy being subbed at half time. Why on earth is he still here???? I guess the answer is because no other club would be stupid enough to take him.
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codge added 21:49 - Jul 12 McCarthy beaten at the near post now that’s a surprise.👎
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A1079 added 22:29 - Jul 12 I know that even as I write this, that what I am about to ask is a stupid question, but why is McCarthy so consistently bad at protecting his near post? I could understand the occasional mistake especially with an inexperienced keeper but this guy is very experienced and yet he consistently makes the same mistakes. Can he really be called a keeper! Nothing against the guy personally but he has cost us in the past and he could cost us big time if he is our first or indeed our second choice keeper in the coming season.

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BornAsaint added 01:30 - Jul 13 I guess Tall Paul don’t even get a mention
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JimmyMeliaPhD added 03:23 - Jul 13 two things i took from it...one, like everyone seems to agree, McCarthy isn't up to the job, 2) nor is Djenepo, he was absolutely awful.
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underweststand added 08:16 - Jul 13 Despite the fact that it was more like a kick about on the local recreation ground, no-one should dwell on the word "LOST " in our opening practice match against a side who rank fairly high in the European football world. As you noted (Nick) many of last season's regulars were AWOL for various reasons, but it was a good runout for the half dozen Academy lads who will be hoping for a bench place in the first team in the coming season. Practice game (or whatever we call it), two things stood out in the result; firstly our continued inability to score even one goal, and that both goals were conceded in the first half - with the same goalkeeper between the sticks. By the time the dust settles at the end of August, we will be seeing more new signings, and lamenting / or / rejoicing over the departure of some others. I just hope we will see a couple of established strikers - who have scored a lot of goals above U21 level. Noted that it took Burnley more than 80 goals to gain promotion last season, as also did Middlesboro - and they even lost the play-offs.

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Ifonly added 09:45 - Jul 13 The main point for me was the amount of suicidal passing at the back. We got away with it every time in this game - but only just. We were lucky, plus Bazunu pulled off a great save. Russ says we have to "be brave" but I wonder where the line is between bravery and stupidity.
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SaintPaulVW added 15:05 - Jul 13 I didn't watch this game but having watched ones in the past these are barely a step up from kickabouts. No one who may be in the way will want to take any chances on picking up a knock that could jeopardise any move. Agree we can't really tell much other than our squad is hoouuuuge.
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Block8 added 20:41 - Jul 13 Its about fitness at present and until we have an idea of who is staying, it has no bearing on future results. Lets get rid of who wants to go and then start preparations the delay is doing more harm than good!
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