Marching On Together

So many articles turn out to be clickbait. Rumours about managers and players. Headlines that draw you in, and then turn out to be stuff and nonsense.

Where are the dependable and reliable sources that give accurate information. Should the club itself be more forthcoming in squashing unfounded rumours.

Should there be a football fact checker site to give a FALSE or TRUE decision on articles, and what can fans do to combat clickbait... just ignore, or complain about shoddy journalism.

For a while now, I've ignored all these rumours and non-stories, I believe stuff when the club announces it or I see PM and the player/manager with a Leeds top on!

lufc1304 wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 8:22 am For a while now, I've ignored all these rumours and non-stories, I believe stuff when the club announces it or I see PM and the player/manager with a Leeds top on!

But the titles are so alluring sometimes that they draw you in. They are hard to ignore.

If I see ace or star in the title, I usually come to the conclusion it is clickbait and I will be disappointed if I read it.

Then you have tipsters who are in the know who sometimes drop hints about player transfers, but as you say the club is the most reliable source of information, and they should be more forthcoming in squashing rumours.

Sean_Nile wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 8:36 am But the titles are so alluring sometimes that they draw you in. They are hard to ignore.

If I see ace or star in the title, I usually come to the conclusion it is clickbait and I will be disappointed if I read it.

Then you have tipsters who are in the know who sometimes drop hints about player transfers, but as you say the club is the most reliable source of information, and they should be more forthcoming in squashing rumours.

I have been guilty of falling for that in the past, Rab, but 99 times out of 100, it's complete BS and I end up muttering "what a load of shite" or words to that effect. I get a lot on my phone, though generally accompanied by "interested" and "not interested" buttons. Now, I exclusively click the latter.

Annoying, best to ignore!

How many players we've signed over the last few years have come from clickbait sources.

The majority of our signings, I've never heard of them or seen them play previously

1964white wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 8:57 am Annoying, best to ignore!

How many players we've signed over the last few years have come from clickbait sources.

The majority of our signings, I've never heard of them or seen them play previously

Therein lies the problem, if the club was more transparent and they revealed everything... all their business dealings... for example, what players they were going after, then that would immediately alert other clubs of our intentions and possibly drive up the transfer fee, due to competition.

So there are benefits to being quiet. Quite often no news is good news.

Sean_Nile wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 9:10 am Therein lies the problem, if the club was more transparent and they revealed everything... all their business dealings... for example, what players they were going after, then that would immediately alert other clubs of our intentions and possibly drive up the transfer fee, due to competition.

So there are benefits to being quiet. Quite often no news is good news.

It has been for our current squad.

The only ones I was aware of prior to signing them were:

Darlow - Played against us when at Newcastle, and had a decent loan period at Hull

Bogle - Was a regular in the Blunts PL team, hadn't noticed or seen him play though

Byram - Player of the Season for us in 2012/13

Rothwell - Scored a couple of beauties after signing for the Saints on loan from Bournemouth

Soloman - Scored a few wonderful goals for Fulham, including one against Leeds in a cup match at Craven Cottage.

James - Who can forget the James transfer saga in 2019?

Bamford - Scored a hat trick for Boro' against Leeds playing as a right-winger in 2018

1964white wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 9:37 am It has been for our current squad.

The only ones I was aware of prior to signing them were:

Darlow - Played against us when at Newcastle, and had a decent loan period at Hull

Bogle - Was a regular in the Blunts PL team, hadn't noticed or seen him play though

Byram - Player of the Season for us in 2012/13

Rothwell - Scored a couple of beauties after signing for the Saints on loan from Bournemouth

Soloman - Scored a few wonderful goals for Fulham, including one against Leeds in a cup match at Craven Cottage.

James - Who can forget the James transfer saga in 2019?

Bamford - Scored a hat trick for Boro' against Leeds playing as a right-winger in 2018

The reality behind transfer rumours is that they have little or no substance... Vardy and Beto being prime examples. We are being associated with players who are over the hill, injury prone, or at the end of their careers.

While exact figures are elusive, it's reasonable to estimate that only about 10–20% of reported transfer rumours involving Leeds United result in actual signings. This low conversion rate underscores the speculative nature of many transfer stories.

For instance, a study by Football365 found that among the top six Premier League clubs, only 19 out of 222 reported transfer links materialized into actual signings, reflecting a success rate of approximately 8.6% . Although this data pertains to top-tier clubs, it illustrates the broader trend of low conversion rates from rumours to confirmed transfers.

So I would say take everything with a big pinch of salt, and when Leeds do deal usually they come out of the blue.

It's a bit of fun that every once in a while gets it right. Just need to know how to read it.

I never open any post having anything to do with clickbait … oh bugger

The Subhuman wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 10:05 am It's a bit of fun that every once in a while gets it right. Just need to know how to read it.

Don't you find it is almost like being lied to. The headlines raise your hopes that the article is big and imported, and only when you read it all your expectations are dashed.

I would be interested to know what IGNORE IT really means. Refuse to read it altogether because of a suspicious title, or actually read it but then dismiss it as rubbish.

Somehow I feel that I am being tricked in some way, played for a fool by journalistic hacks

Sean_Nile wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 10:30 am Don't you find it is almost like being lied to. The headlines raise your hopes that the article is big and imported, and only when you read it all your expectations are dashed.

I would be interested to know what IGNORE IT really means. Refuse to read it altogether because of a suspicious title, or actually read it but then dismiss it as rubbish.

Somehow I feel that I am being tricked in some way, played for a fool by journalistic hacks

Nope

I don't ignore it in as much as I read it

Clickbait passes time I suppose, you can tell when it's total shite as the script reads as such :
"Leeds United are looking to sign xxx xxxxx, aston villa are also in the running"

Is there a day goes by that us palace and villa aren't in for the same players !!

mentalcase wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 1:48 pm Clickbait passes time I suppose, you can tell when it's total shite as the script reads as such :
"Leeds United are looking to sign xxx xxxxx, aston villa are also in the running"

Is there a day goes by that us palace and villa aren't in for the same players !!

You missed out West Ham.

Orange Box wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 2:06 pm You missed out West Ham.

West ham also

mentalcase wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 2:12 pm West ham also

I just said that. Copycat.

mentalcase wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 1:48 pm Clickbait passes time I suppose, you can tell when it's total shite as the script reads as such :
"Leeds United are looking to sign xxx xxxxx, aston villa are also in the running"

Is there a day goes by that us palace and villa aren't in for the same players !!

here are some headlines today which ones do you consider clickbait and not worth reading? I think anything in quotation marks is usually suspicious.

Leeds United handed major Kalvin Phillips return update as £16m transfer battle emerges

Sean Longstaff ‘to pass medical’ as Leeds United transfer news emerges

Leeds United transfer news & rumours as ludicrous Abdoulaye Doucoure wages emerge and Kasper Dolberg linked.

Leeds United transfer blow as Carlos Corberan’s Valencia make surprise move to sign 49ers target

Manor Solomon ‘fully prepared’ as Leeds United to agree £15m transfer

Liverpool transfer breakthrough could spell good news for Leeds United

Aidy White says Leeds United are letting an ‘amazing’ player leave Elland Road this summer

Leeds make ‘juicy offer’ in desperate attempt to keep star who’s on the cusp of departure

I entioned Ivan Toney a few weeks ago, he's now back in the England, I'd be in contact at the very least

Sean_Nile wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 2:14 pm here are some headlines today which ones do you consider clickbait and not worth reading? I think anything in quotation marks is usually suspicious.

Leeds United handed major Kalvin Phillips return update as £16m transfer battle emerges

Sean Longstaff ‘to pass medical’ as Leeds United transfer news emerges

Leeds United transfer news & rumours as ludicrous Abdoulaye Doucoure wages emerge and Kasper Dolberg linked.

Leeds United transfer blow as Carlos Corberan’s Valencia make surprise move to sign 49ers target

Manor Solomon ‘fully prepared’ as Leeds United to agree £15m transfer

Liverpool transfer breakthrough could spell good news for Leeds United

Aidy White says Leeds United are letting an ‘amazing’ player leave Elland Road this summer

Leeds make ‘juicy offer’ in desperate attempt to keep star who’s on the cusp of departure

I suspect Conor McGilligan is behind much of this lot.

mentalcase wrote: ↑Fri May 23, 2025 2:19 pm I mentioned Ivan Toney a few weeks ago, he's now back in the England, I'd be in contact at the very least

Would be a fantastic signing.