You probably could argue that to an extent tbf. Every signing for us is a gamble in some respects and with the names you've mentioned above (Efford apart who got injured with us) the club must see them as gambles worth taking.
We took the gamble on Moult last season and, IMO, it didn't pay off. He was great for us and will go down as one of our best players in recent times but he's done now.
No doubt Dundee United will throw a comparatively silly wage at him so fair play to him in that respect.