Today's Papers / Top Dog / 19 October 2007 / Leave a comment Free £25 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:

Yes, Russia could fail to win in Israel. And yes, England could beat Croatia and get to Euro 2008. But in the real world Steve McClaren's time as England boss is all but over. No manager ever survives the sort of pressure that's building in today's papers. The Sun and Daily Star quote Jose Mourinho as being keen but that's probably more about The Special One building himself up than any realistic chance he'll take the job. The Mail and Express make Martin O'Neill favourite. Either way odds of 1.26 for McClaren to no longer be boss by January 2008 are about right.

Cruft's:

Daily Mail/Daily Express - O'Neill tops the list/Lerner would let O'Neill join England - Villa owner Randy Lerner gives one media briefing a year, and chose the wrong day for this one! But his honest answer to the inevitable question on whether he'd let his manager take the game's top job means O'Neill must be favourite to take over when Steve McClaren inevitably goes. He wanted the job last summer but upset the FA bigwigs by telling his interview panel he would only worry about the top team and not the game's grass roots. This time that's all the bean counters will be concerned about too.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Star - England can wait: I want trophies for Toon - Ian Murtagh, with the help of sponsors Nike, persuades Joey Barton to sit down and spell out his views on England, life, and everything. A really good interview that makes honest reading as Barton prepares to finally make his Newcastle debut. The Toon are 2.5 to beat Spurs on Monday.

Daily Star - Robin injury rocks Weng - David Woods picks up serious news for Arsenal and the Star's 'Seriously Football' pages find space for it while all the others focus only on England. Van Persie twisted knee ligaments playing for Holland against Slovenia, is out at least two weeks and possibly four. A big jolt for Arsenal who are 1.67 to lay a top two finish - a man with five Premier League goals already will miss games with Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Sun - Terry's Op - The Sun have led the way with all the John Terry stories (not surprising as they pay him a fortune as a star columnist!). Andrew Dillon reports Chelsea's captain will have a knee operation today and be out for up to a month. Bad news for Chelsea's Champions League campaign. They are 3.7 to be the most successful English club.

The Sun - Robbo KO - The Sun picks up the late news that Paul Robinson picked up a calf injury with England and won't play at Newcastle on Monday. The form England's goalkeeper with the Teflon sponsored gloves is in that could be good news for Spurs! They are 4.6 to keep a clean sheet.

Dog' s dinner:

All papers - Drogba: I must leave Chelsea - It was Fabrizio Ravanelli who began the great tradition of foreign players going home in international week, slagging off their club in an interview, and then claiming they never said it. Expect Didier Drogba to be back at Stamford Bridge today insisting he's been misquoted in today's edition of France Football! Who else can afford to buy him? Or pay him? Get on Chelsea at 5.9 to win the Premier League because those odds will tumble before long. And 4.7 for Drogba to finish in the division's top four goalscorers is also great value.

Daily Mirror - Bolton line up Hoddle if Megson bid fails - Alan Nixon says Bolton have already talked to Gary Megson because he hasn't signed his contract at Leicester yet, and want Glenn Hoddle next. It sounds more like Phil Gartside is talking to everybody before he draws up a shortlist. Chris Coleman at 4.1 remains the most serious candidate if Birmingham won't change their mind about Steve Bruce. If out of work Paul Jewell was worth a place as 3.65 favourite he'd have the job already.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Mourinho wants to boss England - I'm not thinking about quitting says Mac - Drogba's off - Blame the players as much as McClaren - Drogba on Mourinho - Coleman is Bolton target

Daily Express - Drogba wants to quit broken Chelsea - No doddle for the FA now - Barwick will wait and see - Robbo takes rap - Wenger goes for English kids

Daily Star - Jose: I want Mac's job - Drog: I'm Off - Our Golden Generation down the drain - Robbo holds hands up - Buffoons have given us sweet FA - Blues fight to hold Bruce

Daily Mirror - Sven: You're Finished Mac - Drogba wants out of Chelsea - England the wilderness years - My friend Jose was betrayed says Drogba - Crouch has gloating Everton in his sights - Bolton line up Hoddle if Megson bid fails.

Daily Mail - O'Neill top of the list - Drogba must leave 'broken' Chelsea - McClaren and Barwick both out of their depth - Sven on McClaren - Wenger wants English talent

Tags: Betfair's Top Dog, football betting, Jose Mourinho, Steve McClaren