tisspahars

And vice versa I dare say....

Having been away from here for a few hours and in answer to people asking about the moves on BF.....betting markets can give you very good clues as to what is really happening if you can read them correctly. If (to keep up with the theme of the day) Gerry Francis is backed from 500/1 to 7/2 with Skybet, plenty of people would thing it MUST mean something, whereas it would mean absolutely zilch. These markets are very different to most as some people KNOW the winner. I'm not suggesting Ralph is permanently logged into BF to nick a few grand, but I dare say someone close to the inner circle wouldn't turn their nose up at it. So how do you get the best return? Not with traditional bookies (try ringing up for £500 on our Gerry and see how much they'll lay you!) who only take pennies on such markets, but on BF. Even here though, you need to be careful - put up ten grand wanting to back RK at evens and you scare everyone away, so you need to do it in dribs and drabs. In conclusion, some of the moves at lunchtime suggested to me that someone knew it was RK and that they maybe didn't have all that much time to cash in. I could, of course, be completely wrong.....!

The activity in the last few minutes on Betfair make me think we are approaching the endgame which will culminate in Koeman's appointment.

1) Betfair don't take money they match it (pedant alert). 2) They add anyone they are asked to - if you e-mail asking for Johnny Fairweather to be added to the market they would do it (if they thought he was a real person of course).

With much lollage at the asterisks, that was of course p r i c k my antennae!!

The day on the Betfair market has been one of two halves. For most of it RK was contracting slowly but surely as he has been for the last couple of days to a low of around 1/2. This evening, things have changed, albeit in a subtle fashion. RK has drifted (not dramatically, but out to around 4/6) and there has been a move for someone I haven't seen mentioned. By no means big money and by no means at a short price, but just enough to ***** my antennae. Ralf Rangnick. Make of it what you will.....

Happy to be proved wrong but think JRod would be awful - he is an instinctive finisher and the more time he has to think about a chance the worse his effort is, imo.

A solution to the Bournemouth problem? Announced as Lallana for 20M and Rickie for 8M but Saints and Liverpool know it's really 26M and 2M......?

Don't want to worry anyone, but the first (and let's hope to God not the last) plunge on the Betfair market is happening as we speak.......McClaren.

But at least you enjoyed it....

Given the current market I will eat my own spleen if he announces he's signed a new deal with us at 12 O'Clock....

Been backed (and for decent money) down to around 2/7 on Betfair - I think we're getting close to the point we can say he's a gonna, sadly.

Sadly the Betfair market says there is absolutely nothing in today's stories - a brief drift out towards evens at the height of the twitter frenzy but back to a very solid looking 4/6 tonight. And ask yourself this, if you REALLY knew he was staying which button would you press - the one to instantly make you several thousand pounds, or the one to send a tweet?

I very much doubt there is a Presser at all and am utterly certain if there is it is not a new contract for MP. Even if it was super hush hush dozens of people would know and the chance that none of them have picked up the several thousand pounds of literally free money waiting for them on Betfair is nil.

First significant contraction in price for the Spurs job for a while today - traded at the lowest he ever has been and currently around 8/13....

Further drifting overnight - now approaching 6/4. Nervous times for the "it's a done deal" brigade I would say....

Steady drift on Betfair throughout the day from around 4/6 this morning to 11/10 now.....

For those fretting about the Skybet odds, he's still flirting just either side of Evens on Betfair as he has been for much of the week....

Betfair is a much better guide - not only do bookies give much shorter prices, but a few tenners is enough to see them running for cover for fear of people with inside knowledge. MP has been flirting just either side of evens for a few days now on BF and I suspect 50/50 is a pretty accurate reflection.....

Odds against for the Spurs job for the first time in a while.....

For the first time since I have been monitoring it somebody has just put up a decent lump (albeit at a shade of odds on) to lay Poch becoming the next Spurs manager. Just saying....

What do you think will happen Barry?

.....is that as I type this, the following conversation is taking place. RK - We have to be realistic MoPo - Shaw and Lallana are going to have to go - but we're going to get the best prices we can and you'll get some of that to spend. On top of that to demonstrate our commitment, here's a bumper new package for you and we've got a similar one for Jack Cork..... MP - I'm flattered, but sadly i'm going to have to decline - and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think the likes of Morgan will feel similarly.... I hope i'm wrong I just get the feeling the powers that be mean well, but don't quite realise how intrinsically linked the whole thing is.

You're not the type who should search #MeteorToStrikeEarth imo......

Given Hodgson's comments today that he will disregard the last games of the season, has had his squad in his head for a while, and basically will be going on what he saw between November and March, and given that everybody seems to know there is one spot available between Rickie and Carroll, then (see title)........