Today's Papers / Top Dog / 09 January 2008 / 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:

Rafa Benitez has been doing a good impersonation of Glenn Hoddle - "I never said them things what I said." He talked himself into trouble with an off the record briefing to Sunday journalists, who quoted "friends" of the manager saying he expected to be sacked in the summer. So he's now trying to talk himself out of it by telling the daily papers on the record that he was misquoted, and/or taken out of context. The Spaniard has shortened to [2.3] in the managerial change market despite his protestations that "I love the club, the fans, the city and I am very happy here".

Cruft's:

The Sun - Robbo on Ramos hit-list - The Sun set the Spurs agenda yesterday with their Jermain Defoe exclusive, and now Mark Irwin says Paul Robinson is also one of eight players Juande Ramos wants to kick out. The other six are named by Irwin as Pascal Chimbonda, Lee Young-Pyo, Anthony Gardner and Paul Staltieri, Hossam Ghaly and Wayne Routledge. Meanwhile the Mirror's John Cross claims Ramos called in several players on Sunday and told them in no uncertain terms they weren't working hard enough. The Sun claim Brazilian striker Fred is top target to replace Defoe if he is moved out

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror - Bruce is buying a new Car - Alan Nixon is always spot-on with Wigan stories and he says Steve Bruce is set to sign Ecuador World Cup striker Carlos Tenorio. Wigan are [2.64] to lay for relegation and after recent improvements since Bruce went there it looks a decent bet.

Daily Star - Carling Cup preview - The Star lives up to its Seriously Football tag again with a different double spread before tonight's North London derby. Lassana Diarra will not play, confirming Arsenal are ready to let him go. Lukasz FAbianski will be in goal for the Gunners' normal young team for the competition. Paul Robinson says it's make or break for Tottenham's season. It's [2.16] the home win, [3.5] a draw and [3.9] a shock triumph for Spurs.

The Sun - Sam like it hot - Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is linked again with out of favour Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras who has been told he can go for £2.5million. The Mail, incidentally, say he's also bidding £3million for James McFadden at Everton

Daily Express - O'Neill ready with £10m bid to land Defoe - Top Dog told you yesterday that Aston Villa was Jermain Defoe's most likely destination if he leaves Tottenham, and Matt Law says the same thing this morning. Ambitious Villa, with cash to spend in the window, are still decent value at [2.5] a top six finish, although [14.5] to get in the Champions League places might be asking too much!

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - Defoe and Downing swap talk - North East man Ian Murtagh is letting his local enthusiasm running away with him when he says Middlesbrough lead the race to sign Jermain Defoe. Quite sure Boro would love to have the England striker, and would even be willing to let Spurs take Stewart Downing as part of a deal. But would Defoe choose to go to Boro? No chance.

The Sun - Roos eyeing a Roo clash - Shaun Custis says Australia are trying to persuade Fabio Capello to take England Down Under for a tour at the end of the season. Sounds like wishful thinking as all the football writers will be in favour of this one!! Sydney Harbour here we come!!

Daily Express - Megson still hoping to keep Anelka - Yes, and Top Dog is hoping to win the lottery tonight - and will have a better chance than that of Bolton keeping Anelka providing he doesn't forget to buy a ticket!

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Obi the top - Kick out Barton says Mikael Silvestre - You won't miss me says Drogba - Wenger's first Silva of the season - I'll get rid of you one by Juan - Suffering Sav - TV Nick's Hat trick

Daily Express - Now go for the treble says Fergie - Le Sulk Laurent is back for more - Rafa stages Anfield love-in - Wenger vetoes Defoe bid - Reading pay to keep Hunt

Daily Star - Wright's the hero - Rafa won't walk - Blades call for Hammer truce - Robert ready to Ram his rivals - Reading's Hunt to sign new deal - Van Der Sar's Champions League dream

Daily Mirror - Lesclott gifts it to Blues - All Wright in the end - Eduardo is Arsenal's fox - Robinson's promise - Robert's revival mission at Rams - Sissoko off to Juventus

Daily Mail - Wright on cue - Shaun steals the show - Can Ramos be the man to settle an old score? - Premier League act to improve linesmen standards - Savage to join Derby survival bid - I'm not on the brink says Rafa - Sociedad new president backing Coleman

Tags: Jermaine Defoe transfer, Juande Ramos, Rafael Benitez