Transfer Forums - suggestions and feedback

[nailsy]

Fantastic work as usual over the whole transfer window from all the mods and ITK mongers. If I could make one suggestion it's to give the mods and select individuals like Dov, JJ, Igi, Herc etc. a way of standing out whenever they post, such as having a coloured background, a coloured box around the profile pic or something similar. Then it would also be great to have a filter that can applied to the ITK threads that shows only the posts from those selected people. That way if you come into the thread half way through the day, rather than spending an hour crawling through the banter/shitposting to see what itk has been posted you can filter to see all the ITK/mod comments from the day and catch-up in no time.

I appreciate this is essentially what the RO does however as you said Rob, stuff doesn't always make it in there that should and this would eliminate that problem.

I like the idea of a filter. I usually use the search function to find new posts from certain people. I guess with a filter you'd need to go into each individual thread as well?

 

[LukaMotion]

I like the idea of a filter. I usually use the search function to find new posts from certain people. I guess with a filter you'd need to go into each individual thread as well?

Yeah, I think the search function is great but you'd need to search for everyone one by one, whereas a filter function that splits all the comments in the thread into ITK/Mods/Gen-pop for instance would really help to make it easier to follow the up to date info. It could be a simple check-box system where people can select the types of comments they want to read out of those options or a sticky system where comments by the ITK/Mods are marked as sticky and people have the option for display the thread with stickys on the first page instead of chronological order etc.

 

[Larryjanta]

More a money making scheme for you guys but I reckon you should allow sponsorship for the daily discussion post based on donations. If someone donates a certain amount, they get to sponsor the post which they can use for their business or to call someone a prick, anything really.

Thought the site held up better than any other site I've been part of on TDD before so think you're getting almost everything right.

Main thoughts:

• We should have daily rumour mill post where all rumours in the press/verified twitter that day are discussed
• Have a wankers banter thread in this forum for discussion of general transfer chat/what we need chat - I get that there are threads elsewhere on the site but I'd wager a significant number of people *only* come into the transfer forum so never go elsewhere on the site

Basically, I think we need at least one daily thread where people can talk bollocks in here to save A&C's sanity - it could even be deleted at midnight each day - people just like the sound of their own voice and arguing on the internet but it would move the chat elsewhere.

I think the person earlier on who suggested a cryptic guessing thread is a really good idea

Broadly speaking, all of these things are to try and limit people not really understanding/ wanting to abide by the rules so you could scrap it all by getting better posters :-/

 

[nailsy]

Like so^?

Yep, that works. Everyone can read the post and see what they need to avoid talking about. I didn't get a notification for that, but I assume that would be easy to set up?

 

[Rob]

Yep, that works. Everyone can read the post and see what they need to avoid talking about. I didn't get a notification for that, but I assume that would be easy to set up?

Yeah I disabled the notification and the banning you would have got just to demonstrate it

 

[Rob]

I like the idea of a filter. I usually use the search function to find new posts from certain people. I guess with a filter you'd need to go into each individual thread as well?

You are following JJ, etc right?

 

[cider spurs]

How to rectify I'm not sure, but I bet one of the biggest gripes the Mods endured this window ( no doubt others prior) was posters deviating from the rules in the ITK forum.

I reckon we've all been guilty at some point, I have.

Some are blatant rule breaks, but some (again myself included ) delve deep into how said player would fit into team, soon a domino effect ensues and we're discussing who should be dropped, what formation, what we should pay etc.

As this continues, we move further and further away from the initial ITK post.

I think a middle ground is needed. Somewhere to digress a little further in relation to the ITK. Yes we have player threads, but ITK discussion is also a platform to discuss. It's just to what level.

Think that's the crux of the problem, it snowballs into a clusterfuck of off topic posts. Many adding to the problem by responding to those already off topic.

Would I be right in thinking that the ITK discussion forum sees the most traffic in the window. Clearly needed, it's just trying to get posters to digest their info, add something relevant in the ITK discussion thread and then navigate away to the said player thread where things are a little more relaxed to digress further.

Again, I'm sure we're all guilty of going off topic, I know it's annoyed A&C no end, but maybe relax the ITK discussion rules a little(as long as posts are relevant and not blatant breaches), or do away with all together and leave for the info to be taken from the RO and discussed in player threads. (I think this would make the site more fractured during windows ).

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

No changes. Love the system. It works. It's like a line up that keeps on winning. Why change it?

 

[nailsy]

You are following JJ, etc right?

I follow JJ but I don't really know what it does. I think he's set up his account so you can't follow him now.

 

[Tucker]

There have been some great suggestions so far, personally I think the discussion thread can get very frustrating sometimes, so I can definitely see with a&c gets so annoyed about it. People seem to post any old guff in there, and many don't even consider reading the thread before replying with yet another guess about draxler or insert player name here.

@Archibald&Crooks will tell you I love a bit of Twitter. I remember managing a thread a few windows back and it was tough.

I'd like to see two threads going...

Pinch Of Salt: Verified ITK which you can put a bit of faith into.

Extra Salt: Nonsense ITK that you can believe at your own will. This will stop the proper thread from getting chuffed.

The "Extra Salt" will only work on deadline day though.

I like this idea, maybe a discussion thread strictly for stuff that's been in the RO, and then another for media links and twitter. The player threads can be great, but if you just want to see the latest, then it would be good to have a one stop shop. I can understand if this would cause all sorts of problems for mods though.

Someone else suggested a yellow card, red card system. That would be a great idea, the faux warning he got from Rob stood out like a thumb, much more than the watch it rating does.

One other thing I got the impression of, is that for a lot of the window, @Archibald&Crooks bears a lot of the moderation work on his own back. I know from personal experience moderating a busy website that trying to do it all can get very tedious and wears you down. In the last few days, the other mods seem to have stepped in and helped keep a lid on things. So maybe have more of that from the start this year so a&c doesn't get so fed up with it.

Finally one last wild card suggestion. Perhaps all ITK should go through the goat? Do away with the RO and just keep his gazebo open. Any one who wants to share info goes through one of the staff and it gets posted. The goat could still name check the user giving the info, but this way no ITK gets lost in the player threads of discussion thread. Then if people are discussing things the goat hasn't bleated in the ITK thread, then bam, lose access from the transfer section.

Either way, thanks for all the work over the summer, the transfer window wouldn't be the same without you guys.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

@Rob

Two main suggestions -

1. I know its probably been tried before my time on here, but I really think there needs to be a general transfer thread. Either that, or the regular 'Transfer Wish List' thread is kept open. I believe this is key and there is no thread at the moment where people could talk about how the squad is coming together, and what else we need to do. Stuff like that ends up in the ITK thread, which nobody wants to see. Furthermore, a general thread could be more open to random Twitter stuff as well. As I said, its probably been tried before and may have failed, but almost every other forum I go on has some sort general thread in addition to player threads, so there must be some good aspects. I know we have the ITK thread as well but that's unique.

2. I think there needs to be a relaxation on the rules regarding starting threads with things from Twitter - within reason. I'll give an example. A couple of weeks ago I started the Anthony Martial thread (which turned out to have some legs) with a tweet from one of the most reliable journalists in Europe. However, I subsequently got PM'd by A&C telling me that I had to find an article, otherwise the thread would be locked. Obviously, that's fair enough as this is the current rule, but the article was literally the exact same as the tweet, but published hours later.

I think it should be recognised that Twitter is where the news breaks nowadays, and the articles don't really appear until hours later. I know the mods aren't fans of Twitter, but that's the reality. If a new player name is revealed on Twitter from a reliable journalist or major news outlet (not from ITKDom or indykaila or frauds like that), I think that should be enough to start a thread.

I don't mind in the coming weeks making a list of what I believe to be reliable news outlets and journalists (from multiple countries). Obviously, I tend to do a lot of media whoring so I feel I have a good idea of who to trust and who is a fraud. Maybe that list could be used as a reference point on here in the future?

I might think of more things over the next day or two, but the above suggestions are things I have thought for a while.

As always, I'd like to thank you and the other mods for doing a great job this summer, and this remains my favourite website by a country mile

One last thing...:

You are following JJ, etc right?

One thing I've noticed over the years is that following someone does nothing. Maybe I haven't got a box ticked in the settings, but following someone doesn't mean I get a notification when they post or something, which I assume is meant to be the point of it!

 

[Rob]

I think it should be recognised that Twitter is where the news breaks nowadays, and the articles don't really appear until hours later. I know the mods aren't fans of Twitter, but that's the reality. If a new player name is revealed on Twitter from a reliable journalist or major news outlet (not from ITKDom or indykaila or frauds like that), I think that should be enough to start a thread.

I agree but it's hard to convince the other mods.

We tried yesterday, I made a big deal about allowing tweets from verified journalists or real news organisations.

Within minutes we had tweets from "Swansea Insider".

I had to put up with "I told you so" from A&C all day

The bottom line is people are stupid. They can just about manage "no twitter". As soon as it's "some twitter" there's no chance of them getting it right and following the rules!

 

[Lilbaz]

@Rob

Two main suggestions -

1. I know its probably been tried before my time on here, but I really think there needs to be a general transfer thread. Either that, or the regular 'Transfer Wish List' thread is kept open. I believe this is key and there is no thread at the moment where people could talk about how the squad is coming together, and what else we need to do. Stuff like that ends up in the ITK thread, which nobody wants to see. Furthermore, a general thread could be more open to random Twitter stuff as well. As I said, its probably been tried before and may have failed, but almost every other forum I go on has some sort general thread in addition to player threads, so there must be some good aspects. I know we have the ITK thread as well but that's unique.

2. I think there needs to be a relaxation on the rules regarding starting threads with things from Twitter - within reason. I'll give an example. A couple of weeks ago I started the Anthony Martial thread (which turned out to have some legs) with a tweet from one of the most reliable journalists in Europe. However, I subsequently got PM'd by A&C telling me that I had to find an article, otherwise the thread would be locked. Obviously, that's fair enough as this is the current rule, but the article was literally the exact same as the tweet, but published hours later.

I think it should be recognised that Twitter is where the news breaks nowadays, and the articles don't really appear until hours later. I know the mods aren't fans of Twitter, but that's the reality. If a new player name is revealed on Twitter from a reliable journalist or major news outlet (not from ITKDom or indykaila or frauds like that), I think that should be enough to start a thread.

I don't mind in the coming weeks making a list of what I believe to be reliable news outlets and journalists (from multiple countries). Obviously, I tend to do a lot of media whoring so I feel I have a good idea of who to trust and who is a fraud. Maybe that list could be used as a reference point on here in the future?

I might think of more things over the next day or two, but the above suggestions are things I have thought for a while.

As always, I'd like to thank you and the other mods for doing a great job this summer, and this remains my favourite website by a country mile

One last thing...:



One thing I've noticed over the years is that following someone does nothing. Maybe I haven't got a box ticked in the settings, but following someone doesn't mean I get a notification when they post or something, which I assume is meant to be the point of it!

Transfer wish list would be good.

 

[brendanb50]

I agree but it's hard to convince the other mods.

We tried yesterday, I made a big deal about allowing tweets from verified journalists or real news organisations.

Within minutes we had tweets from "Swansea Insider".

I had to put up with "I told you so" from A&C all day

The bottom line is people are stupid. They can just about manage "no twitter". As soon as it's "some twitter" there's no chance of them getting it right and following the rules!

Agree with this - some people will just spam the thread with complete nonsense if twitter is generally allowed - there's plenty of shite published in reputable sources too, but twitter is a bullshit echo chamber and the lies and false rubbish appear x10.

Maybe having a twitter rumour thread or similar - either in general football for other club transfers and one in the player section of the transfer rumours section? Or does this again allow rubbish to permeate the otherwise on-point threads?

 

[Jody]

I had to put up with "I told you so" from A&C all day

The bottom line is people are stupid. They can just about manage "no twitter". As soon as it's "some twitter" there's no chance of them getting it right and following the rules!

I think this is going to be at the crux of whatever is decided! Loads of good ideas here- interestingly / not surprisingly lots are from long serving members who really care about the site.

 

[nicdic]

@Rob

Two main suggestions -

1. I know its probably been tried before my time on here, but I really think there needs to be a general transfer thread. Either that, or the regular 'Transfer Wish List' thread is kept open. I believe this is key and there is no thread at the moment where people could talk about how the squad is coming together, and what else we need to do. Stuff like that ends up in the ITK thread, which nobody wants to see. Furthermore, a general thread could be more open to random Twitter stuff as well. As I said, its probably been tried before and may have failed, but almost every other forum I go on has some sort general thread in addition to player threads, so there must be some good aspects. I know we have the ITK thread as well but that's unique.

2. I think there needs to be a relaxation on the rules regarding starting threads with things from Twitter - within reason. I'll give an example. A couple of weeks ago I started the Anthony Martial thread (which turned out to have some legs) with a tweet from one of the most reliable journalists in Europe. However, I subsequently got PM'd by A&C telling me that I had to find an article, otherwise the thread would be locked. Obviously, that's fair enough as this is the current rule, but the article was literally the exact same as the tweet, but published hours later.

I think it should be recognised that Twitter is where the news breaks nowadays, and the articles don't really appear until hours later. I know the mods aren't fans of Twitter, but that's the reality. If a new player name is revealed on Twitter from a reliable journalist or major news outlet (not from ITKDom or indykaila or frauds like that), I think that should be enough to start a thread.

I don't mind in the coming weeks making a list of what I believe to be reliable news outlets and journalists (from multiple countries). Obviously, I tend to do a lot of media whoring so I feel I have a good idea of who to trust and who is a fraud. Maybe that list could be used as a reference point on here in the future?

I might think of more things over the next day or two, but the above suggestions are things I have thought for a while.

As always, I'd like to thank you and the other mods for doing a great job this summer, and this remains my favourite website by a country mile

One last thing...:



One thing I've noticed over the years is that following someone does nothing. Maybe I haven't got a box ticked in the settings, but following someone doesn't mean I get a notification when they post or something, which I assume is meant to be the point of it!

Think I'd basically go with this.

A general thread helps the same discussion from happening everywhere else and moves it into one place. Probably keeps the ITK thread a bit cleaner too.

Times have changed and A&C needs to get over his twitter phobia. ITK thread isn't the place for it, but a general transfer thread makes sense, and people will work out what's worth posting and what's stupid.

Would have thought these would lift some of the weight off the shoulders of A&C too.

Final thought, we need to disconnect the RO from twitter. Stuff isn't getting posted into the RO to avoid it being sent to twitter. If stopping that link keeps the ITK more visible and accessible for users that's a win, and we don't need the exposure on twitter in my opinion.

 

[Tucker]

Agree with this - some people will just spam the thread with complete nonsense if twitter is generally allowed - there's plenty of shite published in reputable sources too, but twitter is a bullshit echo chamber and the lies and false rubbish appear x10.

Maybe having a twitter rumour thread or similar - either in general football for other club transfers and one in the player section of the transfer rumours section? Or does this again allow rubbish to permeate the otherwise on-point threads?

I think if the twitter was kept in a "general transfer discussion" thread then we'd see less spam in the ITK thread. Keep the ITK strictly for ITK discussion, and have another thread for shooting the shit.

There was also the suggestion of a cryptic guess thread. That would be great, not all of us enjoy the cryptics, and I for one especially don't enjoy the thread being spammed up by guess after guess after guess, many of which are repeats, and sometimes even repeats of guesses that the mods have already said are wrong. So keeping the guessing games to their own thread would be really helpful.

 

[Lilbaz]

I think @THFCSPURS19 is right, both on the need for some kind of more general transfer discussion thread, and the use of twitter. Twitter is where news breaks, lots of it is as reliable as the media articles we use to start player threads, and often the


Think I'd basically go with this.

A general thread helps the same discussion from happening everywhere else and moves it into one place. Probably keeps the ITK thread a bit cleaner too.

Times have changed and A&C needs to get over his twitter phobia. ITK thread isn't the place for it, but a general transfer thread makes sense, and people will work out what's worth posting and what's stupid.

Would have thought these would lift some of the weight off the shoulders of A&C too.

Final thought, we need to disconnect the RO from twitter. Stuff isn't getting posted into the RO to avoid it being sent to twitter. If stopping that link keeps the ITK more visible and accessible for users that's a win, and we don't need the exposure on twitter in my opinion.

The only problem with twitter is who decides who is reliable and who is not?
It could get very messy very quickly.

 

[brendanb50]

I think if the twitter was kept in a "general transfer discussion" thread then we'd see less spam in the ITK thread. Keep the ITK strictly for ITK discussion, and have another thread for shooting the shit.

There was also the suggestion of a cryptic guess thread. That would be great, not all of us enjoy the cryptics, and I for one especially don't enjoy the thread being spammed up by guess after guess after guess, many of which are repeats, and sometimes even repeats of guesses that the mods have already said are wrong. So keeping the guessing games to their own thread would be really helpful.

With you on the cryptics mate - A guess thread with the correct answers when found in the OP would be perfect.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I'll echo the Transfer Wish list thread. I have started that each of the last two years as soon as the January window closes. It ends up being a relatively good catch all thread where people can chime in with just about anything related to the squad. I really think if that outlet stayed open through the summer, you would have an alternative to the ITK thread where people can get off topic, and allow the ITK thread to stay more focused.