Top Dog paws his way through the papers' reaction to England's dismal display

Today's Papers / Top Dog / 22 November 2007 / Leave a comment Free £25 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:

Somebody at The Sun did some great forward planning, preparing a brilliant front page picture that just shows a flat England football in the gutter. Either that or they dashed outside and took the picture last night, in which case they thought far more quickly than Steve McClaren ever did! The Daily Mail also has one of those "picture says a thousand words" shot with the shortly to be former England boss stood under his umbrella watching everything fall to bits. Best summing up in words comes from the Daily Star's Brian Woolnough: "McClaren was not in charge of this. He, like us, simply looked on and hoped". Muppet Mac's handling of the whole situation was in stark contrast to cool, confident Slaven Bilic whose players looked a quality outfit. Strong and organised in defence, quick and great technically going forward. They are [17] to win Euro 2008. Top Dog thinks that could be the one way to get his tail wagging again.

Cruft's:

The Sun - Last chance saloon and the party's over - The Sun were bang on the ball by getting columnist Harry Redknapp (and his ghost writer Pat Sheehan) to write on match night rather than waiting a day for his reaction. Portsmouth's boss is pretty brutal about McClaren's gambles that went wrong, including picking inexperienced Scott Carson ahead of his veteran David James. Is Redknapp a contender to be next England boss? He's got all the right qualities.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror -- The Not Seat - Alan Nixon reveals Steve Bruce's transfer to Wigan is being held up by a £300,000 row over advance payments he's already had from Birmingham for image rights. Blues want it repaid before they let him go. Significantly Nixon, with great sources at the JJB, says the move should still happen. A market that was suspended now says [1.09] that Bruce still becomes the next Wigan boss.

Daily Mirror - Cardiff want Earnie back - Rob Earnshaw has struggled since leaving Ninian Park and Cardiff now want to rescue Derby's unhappy striker with a loan deal. Could be just what he needs to get some confidence back, and just what struggling Cardiff need because despite signing Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink they can't score goals. Bluebirds are a longshot [21] to be promoted.

The Sun - Sven rise - Top Dog always feared we'd come to look back on three quarter-finals as a golden era, and there's more proof that Sven was a good boss after all as Manchester City offer him a new contract. Neil Custis's exclusive says it's worth £3.5million a year, a £1million a year pay rise over four years. City, with big money to spend in January, are an inviting [9] to finish in the top four.

Dog' s dinner:

Not the papers, it's Steve McClaren and his England teams. How bad have the last two years been?

Today's other stories:

The Sun - OUT - Cro job to no job - Wally Carson - Macca finally runs out of luck - El Bow - Brucie bonus row - Foxes Olly lolly

Daily Express - Humiliation for Steve's shower - You're a muddy disgrace - We're now second raters - Wales back in battling mode - Worthington's pain in Spain - Bruce delay over bonus - Holloway lured by Mandaric ambition

Daily Star - Out you Cro - Petric makes it misery for Mac - Mac drowns and his reign is over - Worthy has pain in Spain - Giggs on Man United kids - Brum cash row stops Bruce

Daily Mirror - The End - He gambled . . we lost - Scott Carson more like Frank Carson - A lame duck team and a lame duck boss - Tosh boys hold firm - Worthy's miracles x-ploded

Daily Mail - A wally with a brolly - Dire England give it away - Stars of rich league are poor relations - Irish pain in Spain - Toshacks young braves hang on - Bruce switch turns farcical - Chris Coleman column.