Safe bet that England will get a foreign manager

Champions League / Top Dog / 30 November 2007 / Leave a Comment

Betfair's top dog sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales.

Cruft's:

The Sun - Sir Geoff and Sven join Jose fan club - There's a bandwagon starting to roll behind Jose Mourinho for the England job and The Sun are pushing it. Don't underestimate the paper's power to influence thinking in Soho Square. Mourinho has shortened to [3] favourite.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Take it on the chin - Sam Allardyce called a meeting with his players and asked if they were happy with him. Surprise, surprise, nobody spoke up. Now Big Sam is asking the players if they can cope with the pressure from the Toon fans. It all sounds like a manager struggling to keep the dressing room with him. Keep an eye on Big Sam as the new Managerial Change market forms. Toon are as long as [4.6] at Blackburn to get their first away win since the opening day of the season.

Daily Mirror - Rafa wins - Chief Football Writer Martin Lipton says Tom Hicks is looking for a way out of the club and has sounded out people in the City to sell his shares. Expect Liverpool to deny it, but these things nearly always surface among stockbrokers before the football fans know. If Hicks really wants to quit, though, it could put a definite stop to funds being available to Rafa Benitez in January. Unbeaten Liverpool remain [8.2] to win the League.

Daily Mirror -- Hellano - Big blow for Manchester City who will be without Elano for up to a month after a hamstring injury in training. City have six of a small squad missing from tomorrow's trip to Wigan but they are still [2.5] favourites to win.

The Sun - Cech and Carv lift Chelsea - Ian McGarry reports that Petr Cech will return against West Ham tomorrow two weeks earlier than expected and Ricardo Carvalho is also close to fitness. No wonder Blues are 1.32 the home win

The Sun - I'll have to get a laundry basket like Jose - Arsene Wenger shows his sense of humour as he discusses how to resolve his touchline ban. "We will first try to improve the size of our laundry basket!" (That's how Jose Mourinho is alleged to have smuggled himself into the dressing room when UEFA gave him a similar punishment) Great cartoon to go with the story.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - Keith Harris interview - Top Dog is sure that Brian Woolnouth's extremely long interview with the Mr Fix -It who sets up all the big football club takeovers is interesting and important, but can't say for sure because he fell asleep after the first 300 words!

Today's other stories:

The Sun - England boss will be a foreigner - Rafa wants Yank talks - Jewell calls the tune - Redknapp cops the price of celebrity - Shape up or ship out warns Big Sam

Daily Express - FA turn to Jose - I have been stitched up says Harry - Harry Harris on scale of corruption in football - Ramos gets it right for Spurs - Cole ready to let good times roll - Rafa's really special says Torres - England would be big deal for Jose - Not all stars are on an ego trip says Stewart Downing

Daily Star - Harry: I was set up - FA: We didn't want you anyway - Sven: It's a Special job - Spurs and Bolton match reports - Watch us Kop repeat - FA Cup second round spotlight.

Daily Mirror - FA will go foreign - Fears grow over Neville fitness - Harry has nothing to fear - Eriksson's England blueprint - Spurs' magic Juande - Wenger: I'll beat ban

Daily Mail - Fuming Redknapp blames police raid for shattering his England dreams - Why DID they arrest special agent McKay - I back Benitez says Torres - Brian calls up brains trust to pick boss - Ramos rejig turns it round - Stelios late strike saves Bolton - FA Cup specials