Judging from some of the press conferences of the managers in the last 2 days, the football journalists are reading forum pages, trash tabloid reports and rumour blogs to get their questions in. So many naff questions have started with 'Can you comment on 'reports' that X is leaving, Y is signing for you?'. Don't they do any real journalism and investigation? Even on apparently 'in the know' shows on TalkSport (however trash it is) and others, the experts just spew their gut feelings, and don't use any inside information, contacts or research!
So, the point is, whoever we are linked to, like Mata, Hart and Kone, for instance, seem to be just people who are available who we fancy, and who match the Walsh-Koeman type of approach and we all jump at it. If I shout loud enough about, say, Fabregas, will he become a rumour?
Anyone want to do an experiment, and 'link' someone to us, and see how long it takes to get to the Echo, or Sky Sports?