Today's Papers / Top Dog / 17 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.

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:

So it was King Kev after all. The one thing that the Newcastle manager saga proved was that Mike Ashley was not in control of proceedings and after Harry Redknapp turned him down he got driven by the fans. Will that turn out a good thing? The Toon have shortened slightly to [32] to win the FA Cup after last night's romp against Stoke and are [1.85] to launch the Keegan era properly on Saturday with a win over Bolton. A fantastic second half of the season run to reach a top six finish is [10]

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - Capello tax probe - The FA swerved miles away from Harry Redknapp when the Old Bill turned up at his South Coast paradise investigating alleged transfer dodgy dealings. So rich irony that less than two weeks after taking over their chosen man Fabio Capello turns out to be caught in an Italian tax investigation. Most of the papers have accepted the Soho Square explanation that it's just a routine study of the financial affairs of high profile individuals. The Mail looks a bit deeper and quotes a Turin prosecutor discussing a 'jail sentence' and an alleged failure to declare 'two million Euros'.

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Toon will be happier with Kev than me - Harry Redknapp broke off talking to The Sun after their photographers were waiting for the police raid on his home a few weeks ago, but clearly he's mended fences. Redknapp hails Keegan's appointment as the man to get the Tyneside buzz going again.

Daily Mirror - Havant win the FA Kop - Mirror has the sharpest headline on the story of little Havant and Waterlooville's win over Swansea. The realists keep Liverpool at [5.5] to win the FA Cup - roughly the same price as all of the Big Four. It's [3.65] for anybody outside those clubs to lift the famous old trophy.

Daily Star - Spurs deal is Fred 'n buried - While Brazilian striker Fred is still claiming to be talking to Spurs, David Woods brings word from White Hart Lane that Tottenham have decided to stick with their current four strikers for the rest of the season. Bad news for Villa's hopes of getting Jermain Defoe!

Daily Star - Shut it Sol - Portsmouth have signed Lassana Diarra from Arsenal and hi-jacked Steve Sidwell's loan move to Sunderland. No wonder chief exec Peter Storrie has a go at Sol Campbell who has been moaning at the club's lack of spending on players! Sidwell will join on January 31, Diarra is there already. Pompey are best value of the clubs chasing Europe at [6.6] a top six finish

Daily Star - Robbo goes in for Ugo - Sheffield United are recruiting ambitiously. Having brought Gary Speed to the club, Bryan Robson is now chasing more experience with big defender Ugo Ehiogu from Rangers. They are still not a bad outside bet for promotion at [8.2]

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Villa: I'll do a Tev - The idea that new Argentine signing Emanuel Villa could rescue Derby single-handed in the same way Carlos Tevez did for West Ham was ridiculous enough when the Star wrote it two weeks ago. For the Sun to run the same story now is even dafter - especially if you saw him play against Wigan at the weekend! Derby remain 1.03 to go down.

The Sun/The Mirror - Darren Fletcher's future - Somebody's got it wrong. The Sun use Darren Fletcher's quotes about turning down a move to Birmingham as a vow to fight on for his future at Old Trafford. The Mirror say he's admitting he might have to leave in the summer!

Daily Express - Ahead of the rest - The Express spent three days backing Gerard Houllier to be next Newcastle manager, and now have the cheek to claim they told us first it would be Keegan. Two lines that Mike Ashley could possibly, maybe discuss the job with the Toon legend doesn't make a story. Just admit you were wrong.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - God on the Tyne - We really love it you're back Kev - Kev's back and Newcastle are scoring goals - You Havant a prayer, Rafa! - Luton ain't Harf hot - Sven wants a final fling - Fletcher vow to fight on at United - Blame the players not Rafa says Carragher

Daily Express - The third coming - Toon put on a show for Kev - How the deal was done - Happy Havant Anfield bound - Elano finds touch to hit Hammers - Jamie: We must be stronger - Give me a chance pleads Darren

Daily Star - Heaven Keegan - Shearer says: Give me a call - Havant on Kop of the world - Emre off but Owen on the ball to spark a new dawn - Elano puts on a show - Blame us not Rafa - Fletcher: I'll battle

Daily Mirror - God on the Tyne - Havant win the FA Kop - Keegan's back and the fans roll up - They love it, they really love it - El for the Hammers - Carra: No more excuses - Fletcher: I may have to leave United

Daily Mail - They love it - A fine mess or a Messiah? - Michael Owen's fears over Kev - Elano the brave - Heaven for Havant - Luton turn to Havant - Chelsea want Messi swap for Drogba

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