ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Will It Never End?

As one door to a room full of rumours closes, another one opens! Oh God will it never end!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/7593196.stm

I have been a journalist for more than 25 years but I would cheerfully shoot those sports hacks who are responsible for churning out the endless supply of mostly groundless transfer gossip. At close of business last night I'd say Everton had been linked with nearly a hundred players since the end of last season. Yet of the five that did sign I think only Fellaini was ever previously mentioned.

I know there are plenty of people who thrive on these rumours, and yes I admit I do read them too, but now more than ever I think it has been demonstrated how we fans are led by the nose by the media and the press in particular.

I think what galls me most of all is the way these stories are used to pillory the board and DM. By all means have a go based on the facts, but it seems hardly fair for example, to lambast Kenwright and Co for failing to sign the likes of Arshavin, as was the case not so long ago, when there is no evidence to prove they ever bid for him in the first place.

Would it be asking too much to drop the rumour mill from the ToffeeWeb site, at least for a little while? Maybe run a poll on it to sample opinion ? except I suspect I know what the result will be. I guess I shall just have to try and avert my eyes!
Richard Ewart, Melbourne, Australia Posted 02/09/2008 at 07:35:47

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Michael Kenrick

I'm with you, Richard. The irony is I started the Rumour Mill years and years ago to demonstrate exactly your point about its almost total inaccuracy. And it has done nothing but reinforce the numpties who bleat "Well, look at the calibre of players we are being linked with" and other such nonsense. It remians the most popular part of our website in terms of hits... Bit like The Sun. We usually move it to a less conspicuous place on the homepage soon after the transfer window closes. But that won't stop them writing this stuff...

Glen Strachan
1 Posted 02/09/2008 at 14:40:20

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Completely agree with your concerns about sensationalism, Richard.

Just look at the press comment about Moyes being unhappy recently and today Keegan gets ?the treatment? as well. Nonsense - as if either of these men will even think of quitting !

Last week they were asking if Mark Hughes would quit Manchester City and now City look odds on to replace Liverpool as the ?default number four side? in the Premier for possibly the next few seasons.

It was rumoured that they would add Wright Phillips and possibly another Brazilian striker to eventually partner Jo.

That sounded like more ridiculous paper talk.

Today another paper has a silly story about Everton having signed Wagner Love but delaying his arrival until January 2009. As if !

Ah well......I suppose it sells papers.

Yesterday a local paper in Liverpool ran a story about Everton being on the verge of signing Wigan?s veteran third choice goalie who is already ?league cup tied? for this season.

Who makes this rubbish up eh ?

One slightly sinister side of this rumour game has been the policy of some big clubs (not to be named of course) who run a policy of unsettling and indeed manipulating transfer targets at other clubs with judicious press leaks.

One added problem in this close season has been that the actual events have often been dafter than the fantasies and rumours and there is nowt this website or any other can do about that.

Football seems to have lost its reason as the debt piles up !

glen strachan
2 Posted 02/09/2008 at 16:42:29

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Oops !

Keegan’s gone and we did sign Carlo Nash.

So they got somethings right in the end !