Today's Papers / Top Dog / 28 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:

Sheffield United's first goal was a headline writer's dream, with lots of burst balloon puns everywhere. The Sun picks up the significance of Manchester City's exit - there are now only six Premier League clubs left in the FA Cup. Unless Portsmouth [18.0] or Middlesbrough [32.0] do something, that actually makes it even more likely the trophy will be won by the Big Four again. Betfair punters now make it [1.16] that one of them will win it, and [6.2] the field

Cruft's:

Daily Express - Capello told it's good to talk by Grant - Fabio Capello's club pedigree is undoubted but he's a new boy at international management, so fascinating to learn from Avram Grant that the new England boss hasn't yet picked up the phone to talk to the manager who will supply six of the players when he names his first squad on Thursday. "I was a national coach but it is a new job for him," says Grant. Is this the first sign of a club v country battle?

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Express - My Best can win us the Cup - Cristiano Ronaldo took his season's tally to 25 yesterday and is chasing George Best's club record for a winger of 32 goals set 40 years ago. Ronaldo reckons he can win United the FA Cup - Sir Alex Ferguson's side are [3.8] favourites

Daily Mirror - Ron: I'm no choker - The Mirror's Alan Nixon picks up one of the significant things about Manchester United's win over Spurs - Cristiano Ronaldo is still taking penalty kicks despite his miss at West Ham the last time he took one. It makes his place as [2.22] favourite to be top Premier League goalscorer good value still.

Daily Mirror - leaderless Liverpool were pathetic - Strong stuff from the Mirror's Merseyside man David Maddock who ignores the Havant romance to concentrate on how bad Liverpool were. Rafa's reds are still [1.46] to finish in the top four but they've got work to do

Daily Mirror - No Euro ticket means no Woodgate - It's taken only a week for reality to hit Kevin Keegan. Two games, no goals, and even his charm couldn't convince Jonathan Woodgate to sign. "We can't offer him Europe unless we get a ferry," said Kevin.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - Angry Dennis blasts Frazer - Dog's dinner goes not to the article but to the manager it's about as Dennis Wise shows signs of cracking under pressure. Leeds are still [2.0] for promotion but there are worrying signs. Wise slaughters defender Frazer Richardson for failing to cut out the cross that brought Luton's last minute equaliser. "We show them things day in and day out, what can you do?" Work harder, Dennis, and don't hammer your players in public.

Today's other stories:

The Sun -Baloony tunes - United's Cup Ron - Mr Ronderful - Cahill's Bolt-ed - Rafa gets Hicks OK - 28 page Super Goals pullout

Daily Express - Woody's spurred to snub Keegan - Ronaldo takes it as red - Eriksson left deflated after balloon gaffe - Keegan: England can help Michael - Only way is up for Jewell - Mido in doubt as Boro are run close - I want Becks shirt says Bentley

Daily Star - Ba-loony - Hicks: Rafa must stay - Ron: We'll win it - Sad Dawson up the creek - Fabio can't select Owen on form - Megs clinches £5m Cahill - 20 page Seriously Football pull-out - New low for Jewell

Daily Mirror - Owners say Rafa will stay - Light goes Dim on Berba dream - 20 page Football Mania pull-out - Balloonacy - Anelka's chasing the quad - Stan Collymore column - Adebayor: The Butt stops here - Donkey Derby

Daily Mail - Burst pride - £8m Woodgate to shore up Spurs - Havant we all done well - Hicks in a hurry to back Benitez - Have Kevin and Owen lost it - I'm back on glory trail says Anelka - More FA Cup reports - Dunn and dusted

Tags: Betfair's Top Dog, Football Betting, Today's Papers