Vancouver Saint

Agree 100% Wes Tender! Fine margins exactly what I was thinking...if Pelle's shot (a self-made chance and far from a sitter whoever wrote that) had gone in off the post instead of out we'd have been 2-0 up and it would have been a different game...a correct on-side decision...just one less de Gea's acrobatics...one less bad back-pass...we'd be celebrating a victory. We will get stronger and we shouldn't over-react. That said, I was really disappointed with the lack of effort/urgency/never-say-die spirit second half - last 10 minutes apart. Man Utd weren't great, we beat ourselves today.

It's in the Torygraph...has to be true...c'mon down VvD! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/11835664/Southampton-set-to-sign-Virgil-van-Dijk-from-Celtic.html Just as well there's a van in there or we'd giving the whole team VD.

Watched live TSN broadcast from Canada...we played well...back close to the "We are Southampton, we play on the ground" we know and love...Norwich didn't show today and we were the better side by far...helped they only had 10 but I believe we'd have beaten their 11 too... frustrating that the commentators focused on Mane at the end and the conversation was all about whether he and Wanyama had played their last game for us. Koeman's reassuring words were timely and comforting...hopefully true. If we get VvD in and keep those two, with Bertrand and Clasie back we have the makings of a decent squad. Juanmi looked promising, JRod will sharpen with more games, Romeu was terrific today...

Do you think this truly crap start to the season is all part of RK's tactic to persuade the board to invest in replacements before the transfer window closes?

I am in Vancouver so couldn't watch the game...caught the tail end of the BBC live text updates...sounds like that was more exciting than the game for some of you. 1-1 is not the end of the world. Be happy that Mane is staying (I'm really puzzled that so many seem to be okay swapping him out for cash at this point - he's been our most dangerous player by far last season and this). We are unquestionably weaker than last year...I think losing Toby was a genuine shock for RK and something he didn't make provision for...could have hung on until Bertrand fit with him...he's the Jenga stick that's bought the pile down. So get a really strong CB...get Bertrand back...get some confidence in the back four and with Soares then as an attacking right back all of a sudden the gap between midfield and attack is closed...better passing to strikers, fewer long balls...a bit of creativity with Clasie (if he's physically strong enough for the PL) and things could begin to click again. Not a great start, but all this negativity is OTT. Come on you Saints!

We need to keep Mane. Need team continuity and stability more than cash in the bank at this juncture. Crazy, but this early in the season last thing we need to trigger is a crisis of confidence and a player exodus because suddenly all the birds begin attacking us at the first sign of weakness. This needs a very firm NO! from management...although when it gets into a players head we have lost control of the situation anyway