Don't shoot the messenger (well, you can if you like) but an Arsenal fan I work with has just told me we are likely to sign Poom today for around £500k. Let's see if he's right?????? Source: via an AFC message board.
It's all very short term isnt it.... then again, Im guessing an older keeper would make more sense seeing as we have Loach and Lee to push for the no 1 spot.
So Arsene Wenger, who only ever offers people over 30 one year contracts has this guy in contact? Which means either Arsend broke his own rules or Poom signed a new one year contract and is now on the move. Neither seem likely. If we're getting him it'll be for the princely sum of £00,000,000.00
It's highly unlikely that we'll be paying £500k for a 35-year-old fourth-choice goalkeeper. Then again, we _did_ pay £500k for a fifth-choice Sheff Utd stiker, so you never know ... :dismay:
It does say we are signing him today in a bargain deal. The source is hardly reliable but it may happen.
Well IF this is true (its the Mirror I know) I can see that as a good move because if has been pretty good over the years and is a short term gap whilst Loach and John North (Wales under 18 goalie) improve as our future long term goalkeepers.
In 1-2 seasons our own goalies like Loach and the North chap who players in the Under 18s for Wales will be ready to go between the sticks.
If true, I think he will stand us in good stead for a couple of seasons, until, hopefully, Loach or even North might be ready to take over. Lee is only ever going to be No.2 IMHO.
See other thread.............. See other EARLIER thread on this, there is a link to an Arsenal message board on it, and the Arsenal boys are saying that Poom is at the Vic for a medical TODAY!!! They originally thought it was us or Charlton, but they seem pretty sure it is us now!!!
Wow thats two free transfers then.... Aidy must be saving it all for one big name. Ronaldinho possibly?
Watford move for Arsenal keeper Poom tribalfooball.com - May 25, 2007 13.15 Watford are set to land Arsenal goalkeeper Mart Poom. Hornets boss Adrian Boothroyd is chasing a new No1 after losing Ben Foster back to Manchester United following his successful season-long loan. Poom turned down a move to Rangers this week and the Daily Mail says the Estonia international will drop into the Championship to join Watford this summer.
http://arsenalshorts.co.uk/may07/20070525_01.html Poom Shoots Off... Mart Poom is off to Watford, following an amazing Arsenal career spanning 17 months, where he didn't let in hardly any goals. What a guy, makes you wonder why le Boss is getting rid of him...?
From Tifonet Watford: arriver* Poom dall'Arsenal 26/05/2007 - di Germano D'Ambrosio ; Il Watford ha trovato un accordo con l'Arsenal per l'acquisto del portiere estone Mart Poom (35), che dunque si appresta a restare in Premier League, ma in un club che gli assicura un posto da titolare. Or: Watford: Poom from Arsenal 26/05/2007 - of Germano D' Ambrosio will arrive; The Watford has found an agreement with the Arsenal for the purchase of the porter estone Mart Poom (35), than therefore it is gotten ready to to remain in Premier League, but in a club that a place from holder assures it. Italian translation `a bit rocky` - but it looks like a done deal. I am not sure about him: From Wikipedia Mart Poom Personal information Date of birth February 3, 1972 (1972-02-03) (age 35) Place of birth Tallinn, Estonia Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Playing position Goalkeeper Club information Current club Arsenal Number 21 Senior clubs1 Years Club App (Gls)* 1992 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1997 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-2003 2002-2003 2003-2006 2005-2006 2006- KuPS Flora Tallinn FC Wil Portsmouth → Flora Tallinn (loan) → Flora Tallinn (loan) Derby County → Sunderland (loan) Sunderland → Arsenal (loan) Arsenal 009 (0) 022 (0) 000 (0) 004 (0) 007 (0) 007 (0) 146 (0) 000 (0) 058 (1) 000 (0) 001 (0) National team2 1992- Estonia 105 (0) 1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2006-05-20. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 2006-09-04. * Appearances (Goals) Mart Poom (born February 3, 1972 in Tallinn; pronunciation: [mɑrt poːm]) is an Estonian football goalkeeper. He currently plays for Arsenal, whom he joined on January 23, 2006 following a loan spell from Sunderland. Poom started his football career in the clubs "Lõvid" ("Lions") in the former Soviet Union and Flora Tallinn in his home country, before a brief stint at Finnish club KuPS and Swiss club FC Wil. In 1994 he moved to English club Portsmouth, but only played seven games and was loaned back to his former club Flora. In 1997 he moved to Derby County, making his Premiership debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford. After Derby's relegation to the First Division in the summer of 2002, Poom moved to Sunderland in November of that year. On September 20 2003, he headed a 90th minute equaliser for Sunderland against his former club at Pride Park.[1] It was described on BBC Radio Five Live as "The best headed equaliser by a goalkeeper against his former club in the last minute. Ever!", and earned him the nickname "Poominator".[citation needed] Poom's career at Sunderland was beset by several injuries, and he spent much of 2003-04 recovering. He was signed by Arsenal in August 2005 as temporary cover for Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia, before the deal was made permanent in January 2006. He is currently Arsenal's third-choice keeper, and did not play a single match in the 2005-06 season, although he became the first Estonian to receive a Champions League medal (albeit a runners-up medal) after Arsenal lost to FC Barcelona. Poom did not play nor did he make the substitutes' bench for the final, but was a member of Arsenal's 25-man European squad, each of whom won a silver medal.[2] He finally made his debut for Arsenal on 8 November 2006 in a Carling Cup match against Everton, replacing an injured Manuel Almunia at half-time; Arsenal won 1-0 with an Emmanuel Adebayor goal. In the post-match interview, Poom declared he would be playing at Arsenal FC for at least 'another 3 to 4 years',[citation needed] which will span his amazing career to over 16 years. His first appearance for Arsenal in the Premiership came on the last day of the 2006-07 season against Portsmouth. International career Poom has represented Estonia on 105 occasions, making his debut in a 1992 (while playing for KuPS in Finland) international friendly against Slovenia. In November 2003, he was selected by the Estonian Football Association as the country's greatest player of the last 50 years.[3] Personal He is married to Lissel (b. 1975), with whom he has two sons named Markus (b. 1998) and Andreas (b. 2003).
He's a legend. I'm well pleased. I think its also a good move for Lee and Loach. He's a keeper they can learn off and it won't feel out of sight for them to aim to be no 1 in the future. Find another 35 yr old quick and we can top 100 years in summer signings by June.:]]
I've always rated Poom, could be a good buy... Although I don't get the 'Poom Time' title on the fiscal site?
