Today's Papers / Top Dog / 17 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

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:
Ashley Cole said much about how Arsenal's fans couldn't upset him, but there he is pictured giving them all a V-sign at The Emirates yesterday. If he doesn't get an FA charge for that he could well do for the slap he gave Cesc Fabregas just as the final whistle blew. Sunday's results seem to make the title a two-horse race. Manchester United are now [2] favourites, Arsenal [3.35], while Chelsea have slid to [7.4] and Liverpool right out to [18].

Cruft's:

Daily Express - Derby in need of a Disney ending - Nice line from Michael Johns on the planned new money at Pride Park from the Disney empire. "Disney gave us flying elephants, a talking mouse and turned a pumpkin into a coach for Cinderella - but even they couldn't keep Derby in the Premier League". Paul Jewell's side now [1.27] to finish rock bottom

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Star -- Ron: I'll be here a long time - Cristiano Ronaldo is being chased by Real Madrid and Barcelona but says he wants to stay at Old Trafford "for many years". Top Dog suggested backing him at 6.5 a few weeks back to be PFA player of the year. He's in to [3.3] now.

Daily Express - Fed up Diarra eager to make an Emirates exit - Frank Wiechula reveals everything at The Emirates is not as happy as the publicity will have you believe. Lassana Diarra has asked for a transfer because he can't break in to the side.

Daily Mail - We haven't even got the best Italian for the job - Thought provoking piece from veteran Jeff Powell about Fabio Capello's appointment. Did we really want another defensive coach who likes to sit on 1-0 leads?

Daily Mirror - Yak can help Blues crack the Big 4 - Phil Neville's full of optimism after Everton's win at West Ham and with games against Manchester United and Arsenal to come in the next two weeks. David Moyes' side now [14.5] to finish in the Champions League places. Manchester City, who are fourth this morning three point clear of Liverpool, are a tasty looking [10]

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - Say hello to Cap and goodbye to cr*p - Columnist Brian Woolnough welcomes Fabio Capello's arrival because "he'll be a nasty b*****d who will ends years of player power". Hope he's right but will rule by fear work when you only see players for a few days once a month? Capello might have won everything with clubs but he's never done international football before.

The Sun - Stu primed for top job - Quite how the Sun can claim this Shaun Custis story as 'exclusive' Top Dog can't work out. It's based on Trevor Brooking's radio interview on Sunday morning! The Sun said on Friday that Pearce would be promoted to Capello's back room team. Brooking says he'll still be working with the Under 21s but might have a senior role in the future.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - V-sign Cole is facing FA rap - Fergie: Ain't no stopping us now - Av in a rage - Luck of the Devils - Tevez the Apache warrior - 28 page Super Goals pull-out - Dud Cech - Sven out of ten

Daily Express - Cole in V-sign row - Benitez survives Anfield summit - Battered Blues take a hiding - Same old story for Liverpool - Temper gets the better of Keane - Dimitar has the X factor

Daily Star - Two horse race - Fergie's title cry - Cech's boob settles feud - Carlos shows Rafa why United are champions - 20 page Seriously Football pull-out - Roy's all the rage

Daily Mirror - Then there were two - United have X-factor - Dud Cech - 20 page Football Mania pull-out - Keane loses his cool at last - Strictly X-rated - Watford wobble

Daily Mail - In the clear - Cech gives the game away - Mind the gap, Liverpool - Rafa can't afford to sit on defence - Everton at ease - Sven eyes silver - Why won't the refs talk asks angry Hughes

Tags: Ashley Cole, Fabio Capello, Premiership betting