Pearce brings in Isaksson to replace James

I didn't get a chance to post up yesterday due to difficulty in accessing the site so apologies that this is a little late.

After some protracted negotiations following the sale of David James, the club confirmed that Swedish international Andreas Isaksson has been signed from Rennes as the new number 1 'keeper, beating off interest from Charlton (another one that slipped through their grasp after Robert Green went to West Ham instead leaving them to sign Scott Carson on loan from Liverpool).



Stuart Pearce commented:

"I've been at the club for five years and I know that Peter Bonetti had looked at him. We looked at him before we signed Peter Schmeichel and David Seaman, and we had scouting reports on him from three or four years ago.
"I think if we had left it for another week we may not have got him, and getting good goalkeepers with experience is very, very difficult to do.....things looked a bit rocky when David asked to go, but all of a sudden we have another young lad in and we might be better off than when David was here. Andreas has years in front of him, as do our other keepers."

Another interesting point Pearce made was that despite only being twenty-four, with over forty international caps behind him plus club experience Isaksson has the experience of a goalkeeper more advanced in years and we are definitely well stocked with 'keepers at the club.

All of this must dash hopes that Nicky Weaver had of re-establishing himself as first choice following James' departure and with Joe Hart and Kaspar Schmeichel behind him it appears as though Weaver is merely providing back-up until one of those two is considered ready enough to step up and challenge.