Value for Money.

Not since Darren Huckerby have we had a player who brings such excitement with his willingness to run at the opposition with pace and skill. The thing is, he's only nineteen. What a talent Nathan Redmond is, and he showed that yesterday not only in his match-winning moment of brilliance, but in his all-round performance and every aspect of his game. Arguably at fault for Everton's second on the season's opener due to a lack of defensive duty; criticised against Hull for poor decision-making, an absence of creativity and missing an end-product;  yesterday he showed both in abundance. £3.2 million, in whatever instalments they may be, is an unbelievable bargain. I can't see us holding on to him for too many years at this rate, but the boy has immeasurable potential and to get him at such a price could well turn out to be the cause of a very tidy profit in the future - though, for now, let's hope it doesn't come to that.

On a similar note, we've picked up another steal in Leroy Fer. To clear up my point from last week, Fer is by no means an attacking midfielder. A wasted talent pushed too far up the park, Fer is noticeably at his best when breaking up play, pushing forward from deep and providing a link to the attack. Amongst his many attributes, his tackling is sublime. Not only does he win the ball forcefully yet cleanly, he has this fantastic knack of curling the ball round his foot as he puts in a challenge, changing the direction of the ball completely, and regaining possession. I can't see Fer becoming anything less than an asset for us in the centre of the park. I still think there's more to come from him, though, as he gets used to English football and the players around him. I sense his attacking game will become more prominent once he gets into his stride, creating opportunities through the middle and making us far less one-dimensional as a team.

At the other end of the scale sits a long-haired Argentine striker costing fifteen million pounds, yet replicating a free transfer from the Championship struggling to make the step-up following his chance in the big-time. After the overwhelming disappointment Gaston Ramirez proved to be this time last year, who coincidentally wasn't even considered good enough to start, you'd think Southampton would have become more financially astute. It would appear not. The Saint's latest recruit was a cause for concern at the start of the game, but by the time he was subbed off, most of us had forgotten he was even playing. I would rather have five Nathan Redmond's, thank you very much. Southampton rarely threatened, distinctly lacking the quality they supposedly have at their disposal to unlock what was a superb defensive display from our entire back-line. Even without mention of our own performance, it gave me confidence to see a team like Southampton failing to cause any real danger - something that we ourselves have been concerned with. I'd rather be in our position than their's, that much is for sure - happily contemplating the money we've saved on quality additions, as opposed to staring into an empty wallet following the arrivals of two or three over-priced ego's.

Whilst we continued to fall short of a substantial attacking force in the final-third, the same cannot be said for our defensive set up. it takes a considerably solid back-four to force Norfolk's very own Cafu out of the team, yet his exclusion was completely justified. Whittaker appears to have finally put his injury problems behind him (touch wood) to become first-choice right-back. Not only has he become part of an extremely reliable defensive unit, his technique with the ball at his feet, and his willingness to make overlapping runs and create a further option down the wing, leaves defences exposed and provides a necessary threat on the attack. Ironically, he's far more like 'Cafu' than self-proclaimed centre-back Russell Martin is - but it is a great nickname, so he can keep it. In Michael Turner we have a highly reliable Premier League centre-back who evidently holds great respect amongst the squad on the pitch. Such respect gives the team confidence, and such confidence makes Turner the quality centre-back he is. Alongside Bassong, the rock in defence, they make quite simply the most talented centre-back pairing I've ever seen at the club. I criticised Garrido last week, but his contribution on Saturday was superb. He seems to have developed a strong understanding down the left with Redmond - the pair making the most passes between them than any other two players on the pitch. Olssen, not even included in the matchday squad following a strong midweek outing against Bury, is a reflection of our strength-in-depth, and certainly not Olssen's inadequacy.

The attacking side of our game, however, continues to require improvement. We absolutely cannot place too much reliance on a nineteen year-old - which is exactly what yesterday exposed. Snodgrass was again, awful. No conviction, wrong decisions, poor final-ball. However, with Snodgrass you have a player whose lack of pace needs to be made up by every last ounce of fitness he can get - without this, he's half the player we know he can be. The international break probably comes at a good time for Snodgrass, and providing he can prevent any setbacks, he should return the more creative and threatening right-winger that a fully fit Robert Snodgrass is, subsequently reducing the burden on Redmond. The international break will also provide a recovery period for Hooper, who should finally be fit again following two weeks of training. Another player who will provide attacking ammunition, another reason for optimism.

Okay, I ask for calmness whilst reading the horrendous concern I'm about to voice. A criticism that nobody dare speak of before. Ricky van Wolfswinkel. Following the first game of the season, I noted that for much of the time RVW will be a passenger, with little involvement in the game. Well, whilst that is certainly true, it is actually worryingly so. His contribution to the team is minimal at best, and I'm beginning to see that unless the Wolf gets a credible chance on goal, he will literally have no influence on the game. For a team struggling to create many clear-cut chances, it's definitely a concern. I hope once the team begins to come together, players get fit, understandings are developed and our attacking impetus improves - we'll see more of our record signing. No, of course we will, how can I even exercise the thought otherwise...

And so we go into the international break on a much-needed win, full of confidence, and with extensive reasons to be optimistic. A squad already compiled with strength-in-depth that is only likely to improve, and a league full of squads that look more prone to struggle than ourselves. The blindingly-unnecessary panic of last week has since been forgotten, I presume.