Today's Papers / Top Dog / 11 February 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:

It's the pictures as much as the words which make this morning's papers, with superb wide angle shots of the stunningly moving Old Trafford tribute to the Busby Babes and the other 15 victims of the Munich Air tragedy. The Express especially captures the mix of red and blue.

Cruft's:

Daily Mirror - Lamps' light is failing in wake of Ballack rise - John Cross makes an interesting point. Could getting Frank Lampard, fit again, be a hindrance to Chelsea's title ambitions rather than a help if he and Michael Ballack can't fit together in the same way Lampard has never clicked with Steven Gerrard for England? Chelsea now [7.2] for the title.

The Sun - Tel: I still want Republic job - Giovanni Trapattoni has shortened to [1.25] in the betting to be next Republic manager even though some reports suggest he will only meet the three man interview panel today. Meanwhile Terry Venables has confirmed he still wants the job. Makes him fantastic value for a long shot punt at [12] this morning. Definitely the bet of the day.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Star - Fergie's silenced - While the rest of the Premier League argue over going global Manchester United are there already. Sir Alex walked out of Old Trafford after the derby defeat to catch a flight to South Africa to promote next July's pre-season tour. Well done the Star's Bill Thornton for telling us that. Heaven forbid we'd have got the idea he was just sulking at being beaten! Meanwhile Arsenal have gone odds on for the title for the first time at [1.91]

Daily Star - Cesc is grown up now - Arsene Wenger says Cesc Fabregas has sorted out his dark side. A year ago the Spaniard confronted Mark Hughes on the touchline after Blackburn's defensive blanket held the Gunners to a goalless draw in the FA Cup. Wenger says Fabregas has grown up and wouldn't do the same again. But can Blackburn do the same again? It's [5.4] the draw at The Emirates tonight, but the better value is [10] a Blackburn clean sheet. Top Dog's mouse is hovering over the Place Bets button!

Daily Mirror - Pard gets kid Scott - The transfer window might have closed, but it's on the jar for Coca Cola League teams to bring in players on 'emergency' loans. Chelsea's Scott Sinclair looks like ending up at Charlton for the rest of the season giving a significant boost to Alan Pardew's team. They are [10] to win the Championship and [2.2] for promotion.

Daily Mirror - England number 1 James wants World Cup at 40 - Top Dog thought he'd mention this story just to remind you he tipped backing a Portsmouth clean sheet at Bolton at odds of 3.35!

The Sun - Green hits Fab for six - Robert Green had the words 'England's No. 6 - stitched on to his goalkeeping gloves for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Birmingham. He says it wasn't a dig at Fabio Capello, just his glove manufacturers taking the mickey out of him. And getting a picture of their glove and trademark in the papers too, of course!

Daily Mail - Asia blockade - Top diary man Charles Sale has run up his overseas telephone bill over the weekend to reach Mohammed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian confederation and the world's third most powerful football administrator. Surprise, surprise, he's opposed to Richard Scudamore's Premier League round the world plan. The project's dead before it starts.

Dog' s dinner:

Various match reports -There can't have been a single football reporter watching a dull game this weekend who didn't think: 'How can they sell this in Beijing or Sydney?' But the trouble with having an obvious idea is that everybody else will have it too. And they did. Every paper this morning is carrying two or three match reports which are written on the same theme. And the Sunday papers were the same too.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - United. City fans respect tribute but Fergie's side slump - A beautiful moment - Wenger likes Fab manners - Sparky backs tough Gunns - 28 page Super Goals pull-out

Daily Express - City's golden silence - Slick City add to Fergie's fears - Rafa's Reds edge game of true grit - Gentle Grant's enough to give Jose the jitters - O'Neill takes his hat off to Carew - Ipswich stung by style of Hornets

Daily Star - Vass and Benjani spoil script - It was all too much for United - Sven: That was perfect - Pharaohs raise the bar again - Shell-shocked Keegan needs bottle to save Toon - 20 page Seriously Goals pull-out - Angry Grant puts ref on spot

Daily Mirror - Perfect day - A day to remember but a game Fergie would rather forget - Manchester, city of pride - Cesc not kidding himself - 20 page Football Mania pull-out - Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0, suddenly the idea of playing games abroad doesn't seem quite so bad! - Stan Collymore column

Daily Mail - Pride of City prevails - Blue half of Manchester perfect on and off the field - Avram is not so special - Toon reality check - Jagielka feels at home for Everton - Fans say Gordon's the perfect tonic - Championship match reports

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