It is not every day you spend £17 million on a new striker and still get accused of penny-pinching by supporters.
But as Claude Puel delivered the crushing news captain Virgil van Dijk would be sidelined for the next three months, suddenly the deadline day arrival of Manolo Gabbiadini seemed almost insignificant.
Yes, Southampton have been crying out for a new front-man since the summer departures of free-scoring duo Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle. But the Italian may have to score two or three goals a game to compensate for the loss of Van Dijk at the other end, especially when Puel's men face Manchester United in the EFL Cup final.