Gilberto snubs role in defence and could be on his way out

Champions League / Top Dog / 30 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

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:

The quickest way for a new manager to make himself popular with fans when he takes over an under performing club is to organise extra running sessions. And Juande Ramon hasn't missed that trick by starting day one at Spurs with double training. The poor Tottenham darlings didn't finish until 4.30 in the afternoon! Top Dog loves having his leash off for a run in the park but Premier League footballers tend not to be so keen - or should that be spelt Keane?! Amazingly Spurs are only 9.6 to go all the way and win the Carling Cup.

Cruft's:

Daily Star/Daily Mirror - Don't come Carling for me/Silva Whining - The Star's David Woods was first to reveal Gilberto's hurt at losing the Arsenal armband, and now he says the Brazilian World Cup winner has refused to play in defence in tomorrow's Carling Cup tie at Sheffield United. The Mirror's John Cross has also got the story, and both rightly say it probably spells the end of his career because nobody crosses Arsene Wenger and stays. It also strips Arsenal of any experience against Bryan Robson's side. United are 6 to cause an upset.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Rio Rocked as he heads for a scan - Serious news for Manchester United. As if losing Paul Scholes for three months, as reported by all the papers, wasn't bad enough the Mail's Peter Ferguson reveals Rio Ferdinand needs a scan on a recurring groin injury. Rio's been outstanding in United's new mean defence - they are 3.1 to win at The Emirates on Saturday.

Daily Express - Spurs' selection by committee - Harry Harris digs into the troubles suffered by Martin Jol working under Tottenham's committee system of deciding transfer targets. Buys had to be sanctioned by chairman Daniel Levy, club secretary John Alexander, sporting director Damien Comolli and Jol. No wonder they finished up making daft signings. What's the saying about a camel being a horse designed by committee? New boss Juande Ramos will suffer the same problems

Daily Mirror - I'm cursed - The headline doesn't quite match the copy, but Darren Lewis has still got a good interview with Dean Ashton over his latest injury. West Ham have Carlton Cole as their only fit striker at Coventry tonight. The Sky Blues are 3.75 to follow their shock win at Old Trafford with a second Carling Cup scalp.

Daily Mirror - £1.5m, I'll Av some of that! - Top Dog is still wrestling with the last bits of gristle from the humble pie in his bowl after suggesting Alan Nixon's story that Gary Megson would be Bolton manager was nonsense. So we won't argue with North West man Nixon's story that Avram Grant has been offered a three-year deal by Roman Abramovich after the weekend's 6-0 win. "Sources in Israel" are quoted.

Dog' s dinner:

The Sun - Peter Ridsdale book extracts - Former Elland Road chief Ridsdale puts the guilt for Leeds' demise squarely on the shoulders of David O'Leary - including the responsibility for authorising a £1.75million payment to dodgy agent Rune Hauge. His book should be subtitled: "Don't blame me, I was only the chairman."

Daily Mirror - Micah's holding out for a fortune - The Mirror's Football Spy column says Micah Richards has turned down Manchester City's latest £50,000 a week contract offer because he's changing agents and the new advisors say he can get £75,000. No by-line on the story that's squeezed in a single column. If the Mirror really believed it was true they would at least lead a page on it.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Scholes out 12 weeks - Ian Wright on Martin Jol - We'll keep title and win Champions League says Ronaldo - Harry's new Pompey contract

Daily Express - Time to earn your Spurs - FA bid for world in 2018 - Poyet pay day boosts Bates - Keane leading by example - Xabi out three months - Shaun facing Bridge exit - We're backing Billy say Derby

Daily Star - Spurs' £60m taunt - United lose Scholes for 3 months - Fab can rule the world says Gerrard - Ramos lays down law - No way will Jose take Valencia job - Curbs: I'm in a Cole hole - You're safe Billy

Daily Mirror - Ramos inflicts White Hart pain - Scholes out for three months - Magic Juande - Be very afraid of us says Gallas - Ronaldo says Arsenal are main rivals - Red Cross - Watford Gap is now six points

Daily Mail - Ramos has Spurs at the double - Coe's key role in 2018 World Cup bid - Magical Marlon - Alonso and Torres out for weeks.