I don't think I am at all. I think you've misinterpreted my enthusiam and what i meant by cover. At the minute our striking options are jelavic, and then who? naismith who is more of a support striker than a centre forward. Vellios also raw and a bit average, really and then Anichebe. He'd give us pace up front as an option off the bench. our team lacks pace in general. And he has bags of potential. Pace off the bench can be really effective, even with inexperienced players.
I guess it all depends on cost and if we can still manage to bring in players in the other areas we need too. If we bring in him and a first choice winger, then osman and pienaar can cover more in central positions. Not really sure how far along in his development barkley is and how much game time he can get, so we might be able to get by with the CM coverage we would then have, although it wouldn't be ideal. I'll trust moyes to get it right whatever happens.
All about risk reward really, he could develop into a really good player for us. if he doesn't we are likely to get a decent % of out investment back in resale value. I don't know mind calculated risks like this at all.
In terms of pure cover coming in if Jelavic gets injured, and also maybe for the last ten minutes if needed, he still isn't that great.
What makes you think he is any better than Vellios and Anichebe? He is highly rated because he has pace, strength, and an eye for goal. He's also performed well at youth level and bagged a couple of goals in France. What I think is he is not the sort of signing you should be too excited about in the short term, especially as he will need to settle. Certainly, once he's older he'll surely give you a nice profit, and will improve. Shouldn't be fitting him into your XIs just yet I reckon. Plus his fee will be huge, I believe Arsenal already made an offer of 5 m, and City and Milan are interested. He'll cost a lot and will not give you enough in the short term.
Reckon a winger should be first priority, and a better back-up strike option on the cheap would be better than Niang. Then maybe Niang at the end of the window if needed.
----------
Lindegaard? He did look reasonably solid when he played. De Gea is an amazing shot stopper, but he makes far too many mistakes when coming for the ball. Even at the Olympics, you could see how uncomfortable he was. De Gea remains a case of 'the jury's out' for me. Although you can't land all the blame at his feet, it is a fact that at least one of his clangers cost us the title - one less clanger would've been two or three more points.
I saw a documentary about Peter Schmeichel yesterday - best keeper I've ever seen, that guy. We were lucky to have him and Van der Sar. I don't know - De Gea did look to be settling towards the end of last season, but at the Olympics, he looked very suspect again.
I don't really agree about Evans - he really came on leaps and bounds last year. Smalling definitely has potential, Jones too. The Brazilian twins - I don't know, I've never been that convinced. We were supposed to be tracking Baines, but that's gone quiet now. It won't happen because Everton got a nice ?15m from City for Rodwell, so they don't need to sell now.
Lindegaard is one of the best 2nd choice GKs in the league and his competition will surely bring the best out of De Gea.
De Gea himself isn't the best in the league, but he is good and he is so young and will surely come good. Stuff like mistakes when coming in for the ball will be fixed with experience. Not the least of United's worries.
Fletcher coming back also reduces the need for a ball-winner to an extent.
Also, all of Lee's views seem outdated. All were valid at the start of last season, but not any more. One twin isn't even at Man Utd, Evans isn't crap and Ferdinand isn't done yet. The defence isn't perfect, but it's good enough and not the first worry.
