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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:

Top Dog picked out Cristiano Ronaldo as a great bet for Player of the Year some time ago when Cesc Fabregas was favourite and Manchester United's winger was still on offer at longer odds than [5.0]. Afraid he's down to [1.13] now, but that's still a guaranteed return on your money after last night's dazzling free kick brought his season's tally to 27 goals in all competitions and 19 of them in the Premier League. Sky and Sir Alex Ferguson weren't slow to call it the best free kick in Premier League history. Possibly, but still not the best ever - that was Roberto Carlos for Brazil in the 1997 Tournoi in France!

Cruft's:
The Sun - Will this pic blow Becks out of water? - Top Dog said yesterday that bobbling a ball on a Brazilian beach was no way to prepare for an international, and it seems Fabio Capello was equally unimpressed by the pictures of his wannabee centurian. Beckham had promised to train with Arsenal but instead flew round the world to open a soccer school. Capello names his squad today. The heavy hint from all the papers is that Beckham won't be in it, but The Sun reprints the keepy up picture on the back page to clarify why.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Express - Fergie's Beijing conflict - Manchester United were not affected by the African Cup of Nations, but Richard Tanner flags up a potential club v country problem for Sir Alex later this year. Park Ji-Sung and Anderson are wanted by South Korea and Brazil respectively for the Olympics.

Daily Mirror - Sir Alex: Kev's not lovin' it - Fergie can't resist a little dig to get under Kevin Keegan's skin, saying: 'Sometimes it's wrong to go back to a club for a second spell. I will be interested to see how he copes'. The pressure's building on Keegan already, even though its evens that Newcastle will get their first League under Keegan win against Boro at the weekend.

Daily Mirror - Last-gasp O'Neill fires Spurs' raid - Aston Villa bought Wayne Routledge last night and are now chasing Kevin Prince-Boateng from Spurs as well. John Cross reckons Martin O'Neill might also try to tie up Pascal Chimbonda. Fifth placed Villa are [5.9] a top four finish

The Sun - Curbs in £10m no - Andrew Dillon reports that West Ham have shelved plans for a new £10million training HQ and will stay at the same cramped Chadwell Heath base where Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst used to go to work. Signs of economies at Upton Park that don't bode well for a European push, even though last night's win over Liverpool has brought the Hammers into [7.0] for a top six finish

Daily Star - Given: We're not safe yet - Three games, no goals, missed out on signing Jonathan Woodgate, Dennis Wise on his shoulder, can it get worse for Kevin Keegan? Goalkeeper Shay Given says it could if Newcastle aren't careful. 'There's a danger of getting sucked into the relegation zone'. Toon are [13.5] to go down

Daily Star - Mat's Fab wage bid hits snag - David Woods reports a worry for Arsenal as talks stall on a new contract for midfield find of the season Matheiu Flamini. His agents won't even meet to talk about the £40,000 a week five-year deal on the table because they want him to earn the same £60,000 that Cesc Fabregas does.

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Sulley's a Devil - Sulley Muntari has 'shocked' Portsmouth by admitting he is desperate to join Manchester United, according to young reporter Gary Payne. What Muntari actually said in an interview in Africa is that he'd love, one day, to play for United. All that means is he's nearly as ambitious to get noticed as Payne is!

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Ronaldo fires United to top - Avram matches Mour record - Theo says no to loan plan - Noble's a nobbler - Villa is Wayne's world - Sturr it up - AJ dive bombs - Kev does not have a magic wand warns Given

Daily Express - Beckham on brink - Ronaldo's gem - Ballack's Royal show - Noble puts Rafa on the spot - Meersey blank job - Sven hit by Sun stroke - Routledge ready for big break - Bullard is bullish under Roy

Daily Star - Ron just two hot - Becks faces axe sweat - Blues havin' a ball under Grant - New boy makes a Woody good start - Rafa's back on the spot - Gibson anger at Downing agent - Bentley will be just Fab - Danny saves City

Daily Mirror - Beckham's snub of the Century - Ronnie's rocket - Misery for Rafa as Noble nicks it - Sturridge spares Sven - Woody debut bright note for Spurs - Ballack's in Blue heaven - Beckham in Brazil interview

Daily Mail - Ronaldo's free kick the best ever - Be afraid, Becks - Ballack is on high as Blues eye summit - Noble's spot prize - Moyes in rage as AJ is the fall guy - Uncle Dean sees Sturridge spare Sven's blushes - Dennis is here to help me says Kev - Washed up Becks

Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, football betting, Premiership player of the year