Today's Papers / Top Dog / 12 May 2008 / 1 Comments

Catch up with the latest footy chat as 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: So it's over. Nine months of drama, tension, tantrums, sackings and signings ended with Manchester United collecting their tenth Premier League title while Reading and Birmingham joined Derby for the drop. Today's tabloids cover it all in depth - a reminder of why several attempts to launch a daily sports newspaper have failed. The Sun, Mirror and Star effectively do the job already.

Cruft's: Daily Star - Terry: I'll be back for the final - The most important news for Chelsea fans. Captain John Terry insists the dislocated elbow which saw him taken off on a stretcher on Sunday won't stop him playing in Moscow. Good news for the Blues who are now [2.26] to lift the trophy, and the Star, like the Mirror, were spot-on to put the story on the back page

Daily Mirror - Copp quits - Steve Coppell dropped dark hints both on Friday and after Reading's relegation at Derby that he won't stay to try to lead them back. Alan Nixon claims he's already told friends that he'll go today.

Pedigree Chum: Daily Mail - Sullivan: I'm out of here - Birmingham's relegation came complete with verbal attacks on directors David Sullivan and the Gold brothers, leaving all of them threatening to quit. Alex McLeish faces a turbulent summer

Daily Mail - Four weddings, two funerals and Fergie the embarrassing disco dad - Alan Fraser writes a lovely account of a Sunday afternoon as a couch potato watching the last day drama unfold. Well done the Mail for a different take, and one that most readers will have shared from their own armchairs.

Daily Express - Capello takes Hart to heart - Amid the last day Premier League drama, Fabio Capello's squad announcement for the end of season friendlies almost got lost. The Express at least gives it some space this morning, although there's a delicious irony putting the account of Joe Hart's selection alongside the match report of him letting in eight at Middlesbrough!

Daily Mirror - Murphy hits back at Leeds - The Mirror don't forget there's another big play-off game tonight when Carlisle go to Leeds. Carlisle defender Peter Murphy says his side have been wound up by Leeds' arrogance. Gary McAllister's team are [1.71] to win the home leg, and [1.48] to qualify

Daily Star - I'll give Warno a war - Neil Warnock was up to his tricks as soon as Saturday's play-off first leg ended, accusing Bristol City of arrogance in their celebrations and trying to influence Howard Webb who referees tomorrow's game at Ashton Gate. But City boss Johnson grew up in the tough school of the old Cambridge United under John Beck and can handle all that nonsense. Even so Palace at just a goal behind, and with no away goals to count double, look value at [3.2] to qualify.

Dog' s dinner: Daily Mirror - Stan Collymore column - Stan reels out his pre-season predictions and says he deserves an 'A' for how well he did. Okay, so he named Manchester United champions and Chelsea runners-up before a ball was kicked, which didn't really require a crystal ball. But other offerings included Spurs in fifth, Everton as low as ninth, Villa in 11th, and Fulham and Wigan to be relegated. That's more like a 'D' for dunce offering.

Today's other headlines: The Sun - Champ10ns - Now prove you're the greatest says Fergie - I could see the hatred in their eyes says David Gold - 20 page Super Goals pull-out - plus eight page Manchester United souvenir - Houdanny - It's the Svend

Daily Express - Ryan mighty - Sullivan fury at abuse - Terry: I'll be ready - Blue is the mood as Chelsea fall short - Jimmy the gemstone - Villa have only small change to lure Barry - Hull's Dad's army march on

Daily Star - Ten out of ten - King Ryan a real Bobby dazzler - Fergie's one hell of a guy - Your prayers Av not been answered - Old'uns golden for Hull - 12 page Seriously Football pull-out - Chest in time for Fulham - Steve is downer and ouot - We're Yak in Europe - Weng's Guns ready to fire - Torres a Ruudy great

Daily Mirror - Now for the double - Terry: I'll be back for final revenge - United's awesome twosome - Fergie's perfect ten titles - Hart gets a Fab call - 20 page Football Mania pull-out - plus four page United souvenir - This is planet Murphy - Hodgson's heroes - All four nothing - Svend is nigh as City down tools - O'Neill's pleased at Toto recall

Daily Mail - Fergie's finest - United do it the hard way - Close but no cigar, Avram - Euro star Yakubu - Danny wins late escape as Hodgson stays cool - Referee proves no Friend of Watford

Tags: Champions League Betting, Chelsea, John Terry, Man Utd, Premier League Betting