Today's Papers / Top Dog / 16 November 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.

Top Dog

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:

Who left a snow covered cycle outside England's team hotel in Austria? Whoever it was gave a gift photo opportunity to the snappers waiting for Steve McClaren to arrive. It's more and more certain the England boss will be on his bike come tomorrow night unless Israel provide a miracle route back to the Euro 2008 finals, and all the papers put photo and story together. Even McClaren admits that FA boss Brian Barwick has failed to promise him support. You can still get [1.74] he will have lost his job by January 1.

Cruft's:
The Sun - Luton are facing ruin - The Sun best sum up the significance of the 55 charges brought by the FA involving alleged irregular payments to agents. The League One club could face points deduction as well as massive fines - and to make matters worse The Sun carries an interview with former chairman Bill Tomlins admitting he broke the rules. Kevin Blackwell's side have crashed to just [1.2] to be relegated.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Crouch can go for £10million - John Edwards is one of the Mail's longest serving reporters and very rarely writes speculation. He says Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has decided Peter Crouch has become too big time to stay at Anfield and will be sold in January. Expect Aston Villa to lead the chase for a player David O'Leary sold for just £1.5million

Daily Mail - Jewell meets Giles - Colin Young follows up yesterday's story on Paul Jewell becoming a candidate for the Republic of Ireland job with news he's met Johnny Giles for an interview. Giles is one of the 'wise men' tasked with drawing up a shortlist. Jewell's odds have dropped to [2.3] to get the job.

Daily Mirror - Wigan get OK for Bruce - Birmingham's board hold a crisis meeting today after admitting defeat last night in their attempt to stop Steve Bruce leaving. Wigan have agreed a £2million compensation deal and want to take his number two Eric Black as well. Meanwhile Blues can't appoint a new boss while they wait to find if Hong Kong based businessman Carson Yeung will take the club over or not. Bruce is now [1.33] to be next Wigan job. Better bet could be for the chaos to get Birmingham relegated [2.86]

Daily Mirror - The Russian front - Mike Walters in Tel Aviv finds all sorts of dirty tricks going on - Guus Hiddink has convinced UEFA to change the ref because he didn't fancy the original choice of German Herbert Fandel. Experienced Italian Stefano Farina will now be in charge. The Russians [1.54] to get the win they need.

Daily Star - Wonderkid can get us buzzing again - More clutching at straws as David Woods reports Israel will give a debut to teenager Maor Buzaglo. The 19-year-old is Israel's new pin-up boy and he'll be a hero in England too if he gets a goal against the Russians!

Daily Star - Blues back in for Alves - David Woods says Chelsea will make another bid to sign Seville's Brazilian full back Daniel Alves in January. A sign that Roman Abramovich wants to put some beef behind Avram Grant. Chelsea now [2.6] to finish in the top two

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Mac flops cash in - Shaun Custis reports that senior England players will take about £150,000 each out of the FA's commercial pool even if we don't qualify for Euro 2008. Top footballers get paid a lot of money is hardly news, is it? I think we'd all worked that out.

Daily Express - Wenger is gunning for Gabriel - Tony Banks is trying too hard. Yesterday it was Spurs for Michael Carrick, today he names Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor as a £15million Arsenal target. Pure speculation

Today's other stories:

The Sun - On yer bike - England stars aren't bovvered claims Paul Scharner - We ain't sunk yet - Put Mac out of his misery - Brum are in chaos - Barry Ferguson on Scots' hopes.

Daily Express - McClaren's Saturday night fever - FA throw the book at Luton - Russia think they are already there - Beckham can lift troops says Wilkins - McFadden will stay at Everton - Bruce leaves a club in turmoil - Manuel Almunia interview

Daily Star - 4 questions that hold the key to Mac's future - I will survive says England boss - Guus to pile on Mac agony - We'll kick em if we have to say Scots - Bruce set for Wigan

Daily Mirror - The Axe factor - FA slap Hatters with 50 charges - Chilling end for Macca - Back to Sven's flops - focus on Austria's struggling side - Andy Johnson to fight for Everton recall - Play me or I quit says Andreas Isaksson

Daily Mail - FA throw the book at Luton - The last waltz in Vienna - Birmingham hold crisis meeting - McLeish ready for match of the century - Israel deny Russia fix

Tags: Euro 2008 qualification, football betting, next Wigan manager, Steve McClaren