Scout Report: How good is Man Utd target, Anders Lindegaard?

Anders Lindegaard (Aalesunds FK)
Age: 26
Height: 6ft 3in
Appearances: 28 (2010)
International caps: 1

It is no secret that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for a reliable replacement for veteran goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar .  It has become equally apparent in recent weeks that one of the top candidates to be Old Trafford's number one is a relatively unknown keeper – Danish stopper Anders Lindegaard .

There have been plenty of other names mentioned, such as CSKA Moscow's Russian international Igor Akinfeev and Atletico Madrid star David De Gea .  Sir Alex himself recently travelled to Spain to watch De Gea, who starred during Atletico's Europa League triumph last season.  Aged only 19, De Gea is tipped to be a big goalkeeping talent for many years to come.

However, in recent weeks one name has stood out.  With Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele having now watched him several times, Anders Lindegaard appears to be the favourite to take over the goalkeeping mantle at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex – A mixed goalkeeping record

In almost a quarter of a century as Manchester United manager, there are very few holes to pick in Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial record.  However, it must be said that when it comes to signing goalkeepers, Ferguson's judgment is a bit of a mixed bag.

On the one hand, there is Peter Schmeichel, the 'Great Dane' who Ferguson describes as his best ever signing.  Were Lindegaard to arrive at Old Trafford, comparisons would undoubtedly be made with fellow Dane Schmeichel.  Current custodian Edwin Van der Sar has unquestionably also been an excellent purchase.  Many felt that aged 34, the Dutchman's best days were behind him and that Ferguson had paid above the odds, giving Fulham £2 million for his services.  How wrong they were.

On the other hand, there have been plenty of goalkeeping flops during Ferguson's reign.  Jim Leighton looked to be a safe and trusted pair of hands when he joined his former Aberdeen boss at United.  He was famously dropped for the 1990 FA Cup final replay and arguably never recovered.  Then there were the likes of Mark Bosnich and in particular Massimo Taibe, whose performances brought howls of derision from Ferguson's detractors.

It is also worth noting that United have failed to bring through any young keepers of note during Ferguson's reign.  The likes of Kevin Pilkington, Nick Culkin, Ben Foster and others have never made it past the 'promising' stage.  All in all, Ferguson's judgment when it come s to goalkeepers is suspect.

What kind of a keeper is Lindegaard?

So, what makes Anders Lindegaard worthy of such close scrutiny by the Old Trafford management?  His attributes are there for all to see. At 6ft 3in, Lindegaard is a physically dominant keeper.  He is only a touch shorter than Van der Sar, but enjoys a bulkier build.  Unsurprisingly perhaps, Lindegaard's main asset is his aerial dominance.  He takes good command of his penalty area and rarely makes a mistake from crosses.  This kind of presence is bound to engender confidence in the back four and help to develop the kind of tight defensive unit that Ferguson would want to see.

Lindegaard is also very strong as a shot-stopper.  He is able to call upon excellent reflexes to protect his goal from shots inside the box.  He can also use his big frame to make up ground and get across goal, especially from long-range efforts on target. 

The Dane is clearly a very solid keeper.  However, there is perhaps room for improvement when it comes to one-on-one situations and other moments where he needs to get off his line quickly.  While Van der Sar's rangy physique makes him more adept at covering short distances in and around the box, Lindegaard's more solid frame makes him somewhat less athletic.  Nonetheless, it is a minor weakness and it's fair to say that he has a very good all-round game.

In terms of his temperament, Lindegaard is regarded as a down to earth character, popular with team-mates and staff.  Although he doesn't possess the natural leadership of a Schmeichel, he doesn't have the erratic nature of some goalkeepers. 

Where has he come from?  Is Lindegaard's record good enough?

In today's game, it seems that there are very few players who emerge as real stars without having been singled out as outstanding talents from a young age.  However, if he does become a Manchester United player, Lindegaard will become a rare exception.

He made his debut for Danish side OB Odense in 2006 as a 22-year-old.  Having only made two first-team appearances, he was loaned out to lowly Kolding two years later where he played on nine occasions.  Although Odense are one of Denmark's top sides and have finished runners-up in the Danish league for the last two seasons, Lindegaard was overlooked for the goalkeeping slot.

During that time, veteran Polish goalkeeper Arek Onyszko was considered first choice at Odense and they also signed current bit-part Barnsley goalkeeper David Preece while Lindegaard was considered surplus to requirements.  Former Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll is the current number one at Odense and was signed in favour of recalling Lindegaard.  Not perhaps the calibre of competition that should have posed a barrier to a potential Manchester United number one.

Having said that, during the same period, Lindegaard joined his current club Aalesunds FK in 2009 and has been a success ever since.  He arrived originally on loan, but such were his performances that the arrangement quickly turned into a three-year deal.  Last year, Lindegaard helped Aalesunds to their first ever Norwegian Cup victory and subsequently a taste of European football.

Perhaps Odense simply lacked faith in Lindegaard and should have given the 26-year-old more of an opportunity.  Certainly though, Lindegaard has improved greatly during his time at Aalesunds and is a very good all-round goalkeeper. Former Norwegian international and current Aalesunds coach Kjetil Rekdal has described him as the best goalkeeper in the Norwegian league.  Lindegaard's talent has certainly been rewarded of late as he was recently handed his international debut for Denmark. 

Verdict: Clearly Manchester United see plenty of talent in Lindegaard. But you have to ask whether a player of limited experience, who has taken so long to emerge in one of Europe's smaller leagues is ready to become the number one choice at one of the world's biggest clubs?