Wes Tender

They seemed to play pretty well as a team against last year's runners up. Or were you referring to Liverpool? OK a few speculative through balls that weren't read and which will succeed when the players have established more of an understanding of each others' play, but otherwise a very competent team performance from us and our new players. I have had a happy few minutes reading some of the comments about how good we were from the Liverpool fans' forum, especially our midfield, which they acknowledge dominated theirs for most of the match.

I'm having a quiet little chuckle to myself at the proposition that had it not been for us fans, Schneiderlin might have gone. It couldn't possibly be that a line had to be drawn in the sand somewhere and that he was where it was drawn? You really have no idea whether Reed and Koeman had decided in the first instance that it was a necessity to keep him. And the naivety is breathtaking that the board caused the exodus of players. Do you really believe that those players would have stayed with us when three of the top glory clubs came after them offering to massively increase their pay? As for Lovren, Liverpool having him in their defence didn't prevent us scoring and it was him who Tadic outsmarted to set up Clyne. You yourself point out that 6 of the 7 players playing yesterday were regulars in our team, which rather points to the fact that you and most pundits have overlooked; that we still have a decent core of players. Credit for the replacement of those who have left cannot be credited solely on Koeman, that would be ridiculous. Credit for how the team was set out, the tactics, the players' attitudes, maybe.

I'm having a quiet little chuckle to myself at the proposition that had it not been for us fans, Schneiderlin might have gone. It couldn't possibly be that a line had to be drawn in the sand somewhere and that he was where it was drawn? You really have no idea whether Reed and Koeman had decided in the first instance that it was a necessity to keep him. And the naivety is breathtaking that the board caused the exodus of players. Do you really believe that those players would have stayed with us when three of the top glory clubs came after them offering to massively increase their pay? As for Lovren, Liverpool having him in their defence didn't prevent us scoring and it was him who Tadic outsmarted to set up Clyne. You yourself point out that 6 of the 7 players playing yesterday were regulars in our team, which rather points to the fact that you and most pundits have overlooked; that we still have a decent core of players. Credit for the replacement of those who have left cannot be credited solely on Koeman, that would be ridiculous. Credit for how the team was set out, the tactics, the players' attitudes, maybe.

Thanks for sharing that Duncan. After all of the conjecture about how she is itching to sell us, it is welcome information. Not that I ever really believed that she wished to sell in the short term anyway.

Thanks for sharing that Duncan. After all of the conjecture about how she is itching to sell us, it is welcome information. Not that I ever really believed that she wished to sell in the short term anyway.

Funnily enough, after Swansea beat Man U, Neville had the good grace on MOTD 2 to reconsider his prediction that they would struggle this season. What a shame that he wasn't asked whether his prediction regarding our prospects was due to be reconsidered, although he was very complimentary about our performance today and agreed that we had been the better team.

Funnily enough, after Swansea beat Man U, Neville had the good grace on MOTD 2 to reconsider his prediction that they would struggle this season. What a shame that he wasn't asked whether his prediction regarding our prospects was due to be reconsidered, although he was very complimentary about our performance today and agreed that we had been the better team.

You can agree completely that Tadic's potential contribution cannot be assessed after just 70 minutes of PL football, but you are perfectly capable of predicting that an incomplete Saints team will not finish in the top ten based on their first match of the season. Don't you see the inconsistency there at all?

You can agree completely that Tadic's potential contribution cannot be assessed after just 70 minutes of PL football, but you are perfectly capable of predicting that an incomplete Saints team will not finish in the top ten based on their first match of the season. Don't you see the inconsistency there at all?

It would be lovely to be able to say at the end of the season, "Adam who?"

It would be lovely to be able to say at the end of the season, "Adam who?"

Says the poster who immediately dismissed Bertrand as rubbish when he signed.

Says the poster who immediately dismissed Bertrand as rubbish when he signed.

Were Liverpool actually poor, or did we make them look poor? Yes, certainly you're entitled to your opinion, but please accept that it is a rather fanciful one to hold based on such flimsy evidence. You haven't seen Gardos play, but neither have you seen any of these top players you recommend play for us either. Neither have you told us which ones you think we should sign, how many of them there should be, whether they will agree to play for us, etc. If you accept that Gardos might propel our defence back to last year's level, then why shouldn't we achieve a top ten finish? I'm expecting JRod back by October or so. Apparently he's making good progress. Whether he's the same as he was before his injury remains to be seen, but I do note that you're one of the most pessimistic posters on here, so your default position is that he probably won't be.

Were Liverpool actually poor, or did we make them look poor? Yes, certainly you're entitled to your opinion, but please accept that it is a rather fanciful one to hold based on such flimsy evidence. You haven't seen Gardos play, but neither have you seen any of these top players you recommend play for us either. Neither have you told us which ones you think we should sign, how many of them there should be, whether they will agree to play for us, etc. If you accept that Gardos might propel our defence back to last year's level, then why shouldn't we achieve a top ten finish? I'm expecting JRod back by October or so. Apparently he's making good progress. Whether he's the same as he was before his injury remains to be seen, but I do note that you're one of the most pessimistic posters on here, so your default position is that he probably won't be.

I'm really impressed with your psychic powers that enable you to predict with such certainty that we won't be capable of a top 10 position, based on one match where we ran last season's second placed team very close indeed away at Anfield. What result would have convinced you that we would be capable of a top ten place? Would we have to have drawn the match, or beaten them? You have of course taken into account that Rodriguez is still to return and that Gardos is yet to play for us. But do enlighten us as to the calibre of player that we will yet have to sign to enable us to stumble across the line into the top ten. And you haven't categorised how many players we will need either. We need to know. Do share your further thoughts on what in your opinion will get us to the promised land of a top ten finish. Should we change the manager too, or do you think that Koeman might just about do?

I'm really impressed with your psychic powers that enable you to predict with such certainty that we won't be capable of a top 10 position, based on one match where we ran last season's second placed team very close indeed away at Anfield. What result would have convinced you that we would be capable of a top ten place? Would we have to have drawn the match, or beaten them? You have of course taken into account that Rodriguez is still to return and that Gardos is yet to play for us. But do enlighten us as to the calibre of player that we will yet have to sign to enable us to stumble across the line into the top ten. And you haven't categorised how many players we will need either. We need to know. Do share your further thoughts on what in your opinion will get us to the promised land of a top ten finish. Should we change the manager too, or do you think that Koeman might just about do?

It just goes to show that some of our fans have so little faith in us, that there were dire predictions of a walloping form Liverpool and yet it isn't delusional for anybody on here to have expressed disappointment that we didn't get at least one point, or indeed all three. I believe that we matched them for shots on goal and were ahead on corners. A lot of the pundits who have expressed opinions that we will have a torrid time with so many new players needing time to gel, will have to revise those opinions in the light of the bad fright that we gave Liverpool. When Sturridge scored what proved to be the winner, Rodgers' celebration had one thinking that they had scored the winner in the Champions League final, so palpable must have been his relief, because on balance it had looked more likely that we would be the team to have gone ahead with the chances we had created late in the game. It wasn't blatantly obvious to the casual observer that this was a team of strangers until comparatively recently. Yes, there were one or two passes or through balls that weren't read, but that happens occasionally even with players who know their colleagues game well. What is clear, is that when this understanding has developed between players, the team will be even more effective. I think that Koeman played a masterstroke psychologically starting Schneiderlin. It was one in the eye to those who had already predicted that he was already off to Spurs. I believe that he played like the professional he is and just a bit of rustiness showed, which will go soon. He put in a good shift with Wanyama and very nearly scored a thumping goal, which Mignolet did well to get fingertips to. Wanyama was a beast as usual and very solid in front to the defence. Fonte was solid, but Yoshida was a bit weak in the first half, although he became more consistent as time went on. I don't think that Shaw could have added much to what Bertrand gave us today and Tadic certainly gave us as good as Lallana would have. I think that on balance, it isn't fanciful to believe that the Bertrand/Tadic partnership might prove to be more effective that of Shaw/Lallana down the left side. I have Tadic as MOTM and was a bit surprised to see him come off. Maybe he took a knock. Clyne made a couple of mistakes early on, but got better as the match progressed and was really very effective in the second half. The Liverpool defence was pretty suspect, despite being improved by Lovren and frankly I don't see them getting so high this season. On this showing, I would feel quite confident of us beating them at St Mary's. Their weak spot was Johnson. Quite how he gets in the Liverpool team, let alone the England team, is one of life's great mysteries. I wondered whether the goal scored by Stirling might have been replicated had Long been on at a time when Liverpool were pressing high up the pitch? Certainly Long is capable of frightening a defence by running at them having taken a ball over the top like that which put Stirling through. Otherwise, Pelle didn't get much service and it would be interested to see Long and Pelle having more time playing together to see whether one might play off the other. Speaking of Stirling, I presume that he only got man of the match as Liverpool's best player, as there is never going to be anybody awarding that to a Saints player unless we are playing a club considered to be inferior to us, which Liverpool could never be, even if many of their team comprises our ex-players. Both Wanyama and Tadic would probably have been awarded MOTM ahead of him in the eyes of an objective neutral. It will be interesting to see whether we bring in more signings and who they will be, but for now, things look pretty good, especially as we still have Rodriguez to come back as well as Gardos. I'm encouraged to believe that we will pick up some good points from the next few matches.

It just goes to show that some of our fans have so little faith in us, that there were dire predictions of a walloping form Liverpool and yet it isn't delusional for anybody on here to have expressed disappointment that we didn't get at least one point, or indeed all three. I believe that we matched them for shots on goal and were ahead on corners. A lot of the pundits who have expressed opinions that we will have a torrid time with so many new players needing time to gel, will have to revise those opinions in the light of the bad fright that we gave Liverpool. When Sturridge scored what proved to be the winner, Rodgers' celebration had one thinking that they had scored the winner in the Champions League final, so palpable must have been his relief, because on balance it had looked more likely that we would be the team to have gone ahead with the chances we had created late in the game. It wasn't blatantly obvious to the casual observer that this was a team of strangers until comparatively recently. Yes, there were one or two passes or through balls that weren't read, but that happens occasionally even with players who know their colleagues game well. What is clear, is that when this understanding has developed between players, the team will be even more effective. I think that Koeman played a masterstroke psychologically starting Schneiderlin. It was one in the eye to those who had already predicted that he was already off to Spurs. I believe that he played like the professional he is and just a bit of rustiness showed, which will go soon. He put in a good shift with Wanyama and very nearly scored a thumping goal, which Mignolet did well to get fingertips to. Wanyama was a beast as usual and very solid in front to the defence. Fonte was solid, but Yoshida was a bit weak in the first half, although he became more consistent as time went on. I don't think that Shaw could have added much to what Bertrand gave us today and Tadic certainly gave us as good as Lallana would have. I think that on balance, it isn't fanciful to believe that the Bertrand/Tadic partnership might prove to be more effective that of Shaw/Lallana down the left side. I have Tadic as MOTM and was a bit surprised to see him come off. Maybe he took a knock. Clyne made a couple of mistakes early on, but got better as the match progressed and was really very effective in the second half. The Liverpool defence was pretty suspect, despite being improved by Lovren and frankly I don't see them getting so high this season. On this showing, I would feel quite confident of us beating them at St Mary's. Their weak spot was Johnson. Quite how he gets in the Liverpool team, let alone the England team, is one of life's great mysteries. I wondered whether the goal scored by Stirling might have been replicated had Long been on at a time when Liverpool were pressing high up the pitch? Certainly Long is capable of frightening a defence by running at them having taken a ball over the top like that which put Stirling through. Otherwise, Pelle didn't get much service and it would be interested to see Long and Pelle having more time playing together to see whether one might play off the other. Speaking of Stirling, I presume that he only got man of the match as Liverpool's best player, as there is never going to be anybody awarding that to a Saints player unless we are playing a club considered to be inferior to us, which Liverpool could never be, even if many of their team comprises our ex-players. Both Wanyama and Tadic would probably have been awarded MOTM ahead of him in the eyes of an objective neutral. It will be interesting to see whether we bring in more signings and who they will be, but for now, things look pretty good, especially as we still have Rodriguez to come back as well as Gardos. I'm encouraged to believe that we will pick up some good points from the next few matches.

Equally Tadic and £15 million was fantastic business for Lallana, wasn't it? Of course, you'll say that we will have to wait and see, but somehow that isn't your position when you assess whether Long will be worth every penny of what we spent on him. And there are no guarantees are there, that Ricky would have been the player he has been these past few seasons. Lambert + £4 million for Pelle? That sounds reasonable.

It has been a frustrating and worrying summer. There has been so much rumour, innuendo and speculation, that it would have been easy to have swept along on a tide of negativity. Happily, for every fan who has been seduced by these tales of doom and gloom, there have been many more who took the far more sensible position, that we should wait and see what transpires by the start of the season, or the closure of the transfer window. Now that we have nearly arrived at those deadlines, we can at least draw some conclusions, now that the dust is almost settled. Although it remains to be seen how the players who have been brought in as replacements perform, arguments can indeed be made that they are of adequate or even better quality than those who left. But the claims that the club is for sale, that KL was asset stripping us, that it was a fire sale, were clearly all rubbish. I'm not expecting any of these journos, or our own fans who made those allegations to apologise. These are people who are never wrong, even when events subsequently prove them to be.

I really think that if Schneiderlin is fit enough, he ought to start today. That would really be one in the eye for all the journos and indeed some of our own fans who have been adamant that he will never play for us again.

No sh*t Shurlock :lol:

Had we not replaced most of them, then I would have agreed with the thrust of your argument. I agree that it is important that we have kept Schneiderlin as he would be the player amongst those who have left that I would have missed the most. However, of the others, I think that we have done pretty well to replace them. There was debate before the end of last season as to whether Clyne was better than Chambers. It is debateable now as to whether Pelle or Long could be better than Lambert, Tadic better than Lallana, Betrand better than Shaw, Gardos better than Lovren. And then with the signings of Long and Taider, we have extra players. Admittedly these players are an unknown quantity, but then again, so are the players who left an unknown quantity to a certain extent had they stayed. There are no guarantees that they would perform to the same level as they did last year, or remain injury free. Lallana is already injured before the season has started for him.

Southampton were predicted to be relegated every other season before it actually happened. So much for your coincidence. If the thicker of the two Neville brothers made that prediction the last time, you might have a point. Did he? Neville's theory is not on the money at all. It is ridiculous making comparisons between us and Spurs. Why is Phil Neville the worst commentator? Is it because of his boring delivery, or is it because he comes out with unsubstantiated theories like this one that you're so fond of? A bit premature to write off Long and Pelle before they've even kicked a ball for us in a PL match, isn't it. They might forge an understanding together that results in a very fruitful partnership that returns a large number of goals. One really has to question whether people like you are really Saints fans if you write off our players before the season even starts.