Spoiler alert: there is no update. This is your free reminder that the vast majority of rumours posted online have no basis in truth. Seen something on #pafc, Free Chat, or PASOTI? Good chance it’s totally false.
False rumours – which, again, is the majority that you see circulating online – often amount to wishful thinking at best, attention-seeking behaviour and trolling (e.g. attention-seeking behaviour) at worst.
They’re most likely to be accurate if the source is trustworthy. That might be if they have a reliable history of correct rumours or represent a major news publication.
Even if it’s come from a major news publication, most of those thrive on clickbait and will regurgitate rumours they know to be nonsense to get you on their website, so even they can be misleading. The cycle of nonsense can work like this:
- Nonsense rumour tweeted by @transfercentre059629dw068
- Website shares a link to nonsense rumours with title “could Plymouth Argyle be interested in SURPRISE midfield” etc
- Another website shares nonsense rumour, this time linking to website, not the tweet
- Argyle fans thirsty for transfer news share the rumours, linking to the reputable source
- “ITK” fans start spreading nonsense about how close the deal it, another club being interested
- Repeat
Oh, and while we’re at it, the betting market has absolutely no inside information. It’s led by betting patterns. So, if nonsense information is spreading, then compulsive gamblers will place a bet off the back of that information, lowering the odds. Likewise, if correct rumours are spreading, that will also lower the odds of the correct rumour. Point being, that market is not reflective of truth, it’s reflective of betting patterns.
Enjoy silly season, and if you want to have a better idea of what’s true and what’s nonsense, keep your eyes peeled on the Argyle Life Transfer Centre for analysis of as many rumours floating around as we can keep track of.