There is no disputing that the press just make stories up, looking for something (anything) to write about, but the common trend of rumours and subsequent club/player statements are no less frequent than previous years.
With that said, should the Villa fans be concerned with the current speculation surrounding Darren Bent? He was always going be be a target for speculation, but are his overtures of loyalty and McLeish's statements of solidarity anything to be trusted?
Bent has been with Villa just 12 months, after he literally jumped the Sunderland ship. His loyalty at the Black Cats was soon forgotten, so can he really be relied on? Is he another Stewart Downing?
As a Villa fan, I was angered and frustrated with McLeish when he declared Downing as not for sale, only to sell him weeks later. It was obvious he would be sold, so why could the manager not be honest? It makes all similar statements, such as the ones about Bent, absolutely worthless. If it is a tactic to drive the price up, it is still unfair on the supporters.
So, are the Villa fans to be concerned, when want-away players fake their loyalty until their move goes through, and the manager's statements of intent are quickly contradicted?
I still say that a move to a more structured transfer window would be better for clubs and supporters, whereby players available for sale or loan are declared at the start of the window and all other players are off-limits. It would be an end of pushy agents, squad disruption and 'tapping up'.
Are the Villa supporters concerned, and does the inconsiderate facade of rumours and statements annoy those that pay for these transfers with their hard earned money?
Are there Villa fans that would be glad to see the back of Bent? He has not exactly looked like the 30 goals a season player he did previously, and with rumours of Drogba coming in if he is sold, would that be a better move for the Villans?
Either way, it is obvious that anything said by the press, the player or the club has to said with a proverbial bucket of salt.
What does everyone else think?
(Follow me on Twitter @MattLeCameron, and check out the official Villa Mad Twitter and Facebook pages).