1. Van Persie wins a tactical battle
The first-ever Premier League meeting between two Dutch managers was inevitably an interesting tactical battle, with Louis van Gaal desperate to outwit Ronald Koeman, who had served beneath him at both Barcelona and Ajax. It was another Dutchman, however, who had the last laugh.
Van Gaal reverted to a three-man defence, with Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair flanking Chris Smalling, who lasted only 18 minutes before departing through (yet another Manchester United defensive) injury, replaced by Jonny Evans.
Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young pushed on as wing-backs, but the two Southampton wide forwards, Sadio Mane and Shane Long, showed no interest in tracking them, and stayed in narrower, more advanced positions where they could counter-attack.
It made for an open game: United's wing-backs were in oceans of space when they had the ball, but Southampton were in a good position to start breaks. Another difference was in terms of pressing, a concept practically invented by the Dutch. United made little effort to close down high up the pitch, letting Southampton play out while the hosts got tight in midfield, with Victor Wanyama and Steven Davis trying winning the ball quickly and capitalising on stray passes.
It's difficult to remember much Van Persie did aside from scoring two goals -- United only had three shots in total -- but that's the mark of a clinical striker. United went ahead through a terrible defensive mistake: Jose Fonte's backpass was badly underhit, although Fraser Forster probably could have read the situation quicker and time stood still as he dallied as Van Persie raced onto the ball.
Forster wouldn't have been able to intercept the accidental through-ball but he could have narrowed the angle better. Either way, the Dutchman's finish was extremely cool.
His second was better; again, extremely simple, but majestically taken. Wayne Rooney's whipped, inswinging free-kick found him at the far post and he prodded the ball confidently between Forster's legs with the outside of his trusty left foot, to give United a somewhat surprising victory.
Van Persie's goals were reminiscent of his double strike in a 2-1 victory at Liverpool in his final season at Arsenal. That day, Arsene Wenger's side were battered throughout but his brilliance snatched a victory that barely seemed deserved considering the balance of play.
He did that frequently in his final campaign at the Emirates to haul an otherwise unimpressive side into third place and, despite poor recent form, that's his task for this season, too.
2. More defensive issues for United
United's first-half performance was reminiscent of their recent display in the 2-1 victory at the Emirates, where they were outplayed for the opening 25 minutes, relied on David De Gea to remain in the game and then counter-attacked well in the second half following a switch to a four-man backline.
At St. Mary's, with a back three, they again looked completely uncomfortable. Problems with injury persist and Van Gaal continues to be unable to count upon reliable partnerships at the back.
Losing Smalling was a big blow, and Van Gaal's subsequent decision to remove McNair just before half-time was understandable after the youngster endured a difficult game, which culminated with him hooking the ball to Shane Long in a dangerous goalscoring position.
Amazingly, the players appeared to have no idea what this substitution meant, with Michael Carrick frantically screaming at Herrera and the bench with his arms outstretched, asking whether he was supposed to continue in midfield, or at the back.
It turned out to be the latter -- United kept the 3-1-4-2 shape -- but it's amazing that such poor communication can happen at this level and summarises their all-round problems with Van Gaal's approach. United are still completely unable to defend in a variety of situations, and the three-man defence doesn't seem to be solving anything.
Theoretically the alignment provides spare men at centre-back, yet the players showed no understanding of their positional responsibilities. Graziano Pelle bullied with his strength, while Dusan Tadic was able to peel off Carrick and race in behind, completely exposing the flat backline with one simple run.
United's defence is still very much a work in progress, and things haven't improved much at the back since the start of the season.
3. Brave Saints lack cutting edge
United aren't the only ones suffering from significant injury problems. Southampton were troubled in midfield without Morgan Schneiderlin and Jack Cork, plus Toby Alderweireld, who moved into that position against both Manchester City and Arsenal. Jay Rodriguez, meanwhile, is a long-term absentee.
The midfield shortage forced Koeman to change his system slightly. Usually he likes to play with three standard central midfielders and three forwards, an approach that changed in the recent 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, when two midfielders played behind a front four.
Koeman admitted that was a tactic to expose a makeshift Villa defence, but it didn't work and there was no link between midfield and attack with Shane Long as a second striker. The Saints manager changed that in the second half against Villa, instead putting Tadic centrally. It was better, and that's how Southampton started here.
Tadic was responsible for much of his side's good play in that No. 10 role, floating between the lines and then charging in behind dangerously. His dribbling is less obvious in central positions but his clever, floated balls into the box caused plenty of problems.
It was his shot that deflected through to Pelle for the equaliser and in the second half he really took command. His floated cross to the far post found Long, who should have done better than heading straight at De Gea, then his ball into Pelle prompted an overhead kick for the Italian, and a half-hearted shout for handball.
Tadic's substitution with 20 minutes remaining was a real surprise and Southampton lost their creative spark. They had the chances to win this game, but lacked a clinical edge.
Last season they were outplayed by top teams. This campaign they compete well but find themselves unable to capitalise upon their best periods. It's more encouraging for Saints fans, but also more frustrating.
The first-ever Premier League meeting between two Dutch managers was inevitably an interesting tactical battle, with Louis van Gaal desperate to outwit Ronald Koeman, who had served beneath him at both Barcelona and Ajax. It was another Dutchman, however, who had the last laugh.
Van Gaal reverted to a three-man defence, with Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair flanking Chris Smalling, who lasted only 18 minutes before departing through (yet another Manchester United defensive) injury, replaced by Jonny Evans.
Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young pushed on as wing-backs, but the two Southampton wide forwards, Sadio Mane and Shane Long, showed no interest in tracking them, and stayed in narrower, more advanced positions where they could counter-attack.
It made for an open game: United's wing-backs were in oceans of space when they had the ball, but Southampton were in a good position to start breaks. Another difference was in terms of pressing, a concept practically invented by the Dutch. United made little effort to close down high up the pitch, letting Southampton play out while the hosts got tight in midfield, with Victor Wanyama and Steven Davis trying winning the ball quickly and capitalising on stray passes.
It's difficult to remember much Van Persie did aside from scoring two goals -- United only had three shots in total -- but that's the mark of a clinical striker. United went ahead through a terrible defensive mistake: Jose Fonte's backpass was badly underhit, although Fraser Forster probably could have read the situation quicker and time stood still as he dallied as Van Persie raced onto the ball.
Forster wouldn't have been able to intercept the accidental through-ball but he could have narrowed the angle better. Either way, the Dutchman's finish was extremely cool.
His second was better; again, extremely simple, but majestically taken. Wayne Rooney's whipped, inswinging free-kick found him at the far post and he prodded the ball confidently between Forster's legs with the outside of his trusty left foot, to give United a somewhat surprising victory.
Van Persie's goals were reminiscent of his double strike in a 2-1 victory at Liverpool in his final season at Arsenal. That day, Arsene Wenger's side were battered throughout but his brilliance snatched a victory that barely seemed deserved considering the balance of play.
He did that frequently in his final campaign at the Emirates to haul an otherwise unimpressive side into third place and, despite poor recent form, that's his task for this season, too.
2. More defensive issues for United
United's first-half performance was reminiscent of their recent display in the 2-1 victory at the Emirates, where they were outplayed for the opening 25 minutes, relied on David De Gea to remain in the game and then counter-attacked well in the second half following a switch to a four-man backline.
At St. Mary's, with a back three, they again looked completely uncomfortable. Problems with injury persist and Van Gaal continues to be unable to count upon reliable partnerships at the back.
Losing Smalling was a big blow, and Van Gaal's subsequent decision to remove McNair just before half-time was understandable after the youngster endured a difficult game, which culminated with him hooking the ball to Shane Long in a dangerous goalscoring position.
Amazingly, the players appeared to have no idea what this substitution meant, with Michael Carrick frantically screaming at Herrera and the bench with his arms outstretched, asking whether he was supposed to continue in midfield, or at the back.
It turned out to be the latter -- United kept the 3-1-4-2 shape -- but it's amazing that such poor communication can happen at this level and summarises their all-round problems with Van Gaal's approach. United are still completely unable to defend in a variety of situations, and the three-man defence doesn't seem to be solving anything.
Theoretically the alignment provides spare men at centre-back, yet the players showed no understanding of their positional responsibilities. Graziano Pelle bullied with his strength, while Dusan Tadic was able to peel off Carrick and race in behind, completely exposing the flat backline with one simple run.
United's defence is still very much a work in progress, and things haven't improved much at the back since the start of the season.
3. Brave Saints lack cutting edge
United aren't the only ones suffering from significant injury problems. Southampton were troubled in midfield without Morgan Schneiderlin and Jack Cork, plus Toby Alderweireld, who moved into that position against both Manchester City and Arsenal. Jay Rodriguez, meanwhile, is a long-term absentee.
The midfield shortage forced Koeman to change his system slightly. Usually he likes to play with three standard central midfielders and three forwards, an approach that changed in the recent 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, when two midfielders played behind a front four.
Koeman admitted that was a tactic to expose a makeshift Villa defence, but it didn't work and there was no link between midfield and attack with Shane Long as a second striker. The Saints manager changed that in the second half against Villa, instead putting Tadic centrally. It was better, and that's how Southampton started here.
Tadic was responsible for much of his side's good play in that No. 10 role, floating between the lines and then charging in behind dangerously. His dribbling is less obvious in central positions but his clever, floated balls into the box caused plenty of problems.
It was his shot that deflected through to Pelle for the equaliser and in the second half he really took command. His floated cross to the far post found Long, who should have done better than heading straight at De Gea, then his ball into Pelle prompted an overhead kick for the Italian, and a half-hearted shout for handball.
Tadic's substitution with 20 minutes remaining was a real surprise and Southampton lost their creative spark. They had the chances to win this game, but lacked a clinical edge.
Last season they were outplayed by top teams. This campaign they compete well but find themselves unable to capitalise upon their best periods. It's more encouraging for Saints fans, but also more frustrating.
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