Lots of omissions. Where's Livramento? KWP? Salisu? Adams? Ffs, they must all be leaving. Lyanco is playing. He must be staying. Fucckkkkk, we're going to get relegated. Martin out.
First thing for me, He's going with the back two that he ended his Swansea play style with. If that's a thing to come then I'm already more excited about the team.
Game underway - can watch for free here: https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/video/watch-live-benfica-vs-southampton-fc-wednesday-12-july
Benfica 1-0 Saints Alex McCarthy concedes at his near post (to be fair, not an easy shot - very well-struck and Meghoma caught a little bit too narrow)
Samuel Soares, João Victor, Lucas Veríssimo, Morato, Mihailo, Chiquinho, Kökcü, Aursnes, Neres, Rafa, Musa
Id say its looking difficult so far, but gathering this is a relatively decent Benfica side against 50% Saints academy so it is maybe slightly mismatched.
Players who looked pretty competent with the possession game: Bree, Doyle, Ward-Prowse, Alcaraz, Dibling Player who did not: Lyanco, for sure
From someone actually watching. Looked reasonably good, a high energetic press, lots of quick short passing which looks very nice, the youngsters doing very well, Benfica look a very good team who really don't worry about the press and look like they can score from anywhere Our issues, well pretty much the same as last year defence gets stretched easily, a keeper who leaves his near post wide open and no striker Onto the second half
Second half XI - 4-2-3-1: Bazunu; Livramento, Caleta-Car, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Lavia, Smallbone; Amo-Ameyaw, Arma, Djenepo; Adams
It wasn't pretty at all, but I think it was pretty tough opposition and also the first friendly so can't read too much into it.
