Carragher: Valdes Deals Has Its Pros & Cons

In his weekly column, Jamie Carragher has his say on the main talking points surrounding Manchester United's game with Southampton and Stoke's trip to Arsenal, plus talk of Victor Valdes' move to the Premier League.

The former Liverpool and England defender discusses the pros and cons of having two top-class goalkeepers at one club, Southampton's top four credentials and Arsenal's chances of avenging their December defeat by Stoke.

You were at Liverpool when Jerzy Dudek was battling Pepe Reina for the No 1 spot. What are the pros of cons of having two top class goalkeepers with Victor Valdes signing for Manchester United?

CARRA SAYS: It’s an interesting deal and normally you don’t see two top ‘keepers at one club. For outfield players’ psychology, they need to know who’s No 1, it gives them confidence. With outfield players you need competition and goalkeepers need competition as well, but you need knowledge of who is No 1. I think psychology with goalkeepers is a problem at times. We had Reina and Dudek, two top class ‘keepers and one had just won the Champions League, but we all knew Pepe was the No 1. Valdes has had a great career at Barcelona, and Louis van Gaal obviously wants a better No 2 than what he’s got in Anders Lindegaard, and he’s gone for him, but there would be no doubt that De Gea will be No 1 goalkeeper.

Are Manchester United faltering slightly with three draws in their last four games?

CARRA SAYS: Van Gaal has come in and done a good job. They’re not winning too many away from home, but look at where they are in the league with a new manager and lots of new signings. It was a difficult start, and the manager has mentioned their away form a few times. That’s probably going to stop them from competing with the top two. I think it’s obvious there’s that little gap between United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and the top two of Chelsea and Manchester City.

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