Today's Papers / Top Dog / 27 December 2007 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

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

Cruft's champion - Top stories that can dominate the news agenda
Pedigree chum - Insights that tell you something you don't know
Dog's dinner - Speculation, guesswork, or ideas that just don't come off.

Top Dog says:

Roy Keane proves he's mastered one of football management's dark arts. When you get hammered talk about how brilliant the other lot were, and it stops anybody writing about your own side's rubbish performance. The Sun leads on Old Trafford legend Keane saying United will win the title - they are now [1.61] favourites. More relevant is the Black Cats are now in 19th place and [2.56] for relegation. Only Derby [1.05] and Fulham [2.1] are shorter.

Cruft's:

The Sun -- New Year Sales guide - The Sun are first in the queue for when the January window opens with a thorough two-page guide to who's buying whom. Key message is that Thaksin Shinawatra will have most to spend at Manchester City. Sven's side are [7.0] a top four finish.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror - Sick of it - Sam Allardyce has had a woeful Christmas with a draw at home to Derby and a defeat at Wigan - now comes a trip to Chelsea. The Mirror along with all the other papers highlights the growing anger of the Toon Army. When the travelling fans turn you've got problems. Watch for Big Sam when the managerial change market re-opens.

Daily Mail - Pressure piles up on worried McCarthy - Wolves' 2-0 defeat at Hull left Mick McCarthy miserable and listening to grumbles from the travelling fans. McCarthy turned down a return to international football with South Korea but Top Dog keeps hearing rumours linking him to a return to the Republic of Ireland. It's a long shot but get on at [30.0] while you can.

Daily Express - I'll dive into market - The Express ignored the immediate controversy of Chelsea's 4-4 cracker with Villa and picks out that Avram Grant will spend to cover the suspensions that resulted. Big money behind him means Chelsea might not catch United for the title but they could still go past Arsenal. They are [3.45] a top two finish.

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Thierry 'would not get a game' - Gary Payne has dug up some quotes from Adebayor about his determination to stay in Arsenal's first team and spun them so hard it makes you dizzy reading it.

Daily Mirror- Maloney's so happy with Villa - James Nursey has re-hashed some old Shaun Maloney quotes insisting he's over his homesickness. But if the midfield man is now so happy at Villa why didn't he celebrate either of his goals at Stamford Bridge?

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Red card Carvalho says I'm sorry - Gunners agony - Micah's in the money - 16 page Super Goals pull-out

Daily Express - My flops will get me fired says Big Sam - Upstarts crushed by Fergie's kings - McLeish festive gesture pays dividends - Gerrard is still number one - 14 pages of live football

Daily Star - I'm so sorry for Carv-up - Barry's so cool in red card riot - Micah on verge of £2m deal - Sol puts block on big Guns - Gerro's the Ram raider - Toon fans 'sick of it' - 15 pages of football in total

Daily Mirror - 8 goals, 3 red cards and one cheat - United are only flexing their muscles - Sven tempts Micah with £2million - 20 page football mania pull-out - Scrooge Sol

Daily Mail - What goodwill? - All quiet on South Coast as Sol and Co defy Arsenal - Merciless United - Gerrard's gem - 12 pages of football reports and results

Tags: Premier League Betting, Relegation Betting, Sunderland