Owen back in the goals as Shevchenko vows to stay

Champions League / Top Dog / 30 August 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 Mail and Sun both pour scorn on Michael Owen's first Newcastle goal in 620 days, there's even a cut out and keep picture on the back of The Sun. The Star's Ian Murtagh, on the other hand, says expect the goals to flow now. And given Owen's record when he's fit, the ability of Sam Allardyce to handle injury prevention, and Newcastle's steady improvement it makes odds of 9.6 Owen the top English Premiership scorer interesting.

Cruft's:

Daily Star - Sheva to fight for his place - The Star's David Woods is still the reporter in form with yet another exclusive in a chat with Andriy Shevchenko's agent who says the Ukraine superstar is close to fitness, won't quit the Bridge, and isn't afraid to compete for his place. Interesting stuff, and you can get 42 for the 2004 European Footballer of the Year to end up as Premiership top goalscorer.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Redknapp move for Gudjohnsen - Former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is Portsmouth's latest target as moves to get Nicolas Anelka look like stalling. Harry Redknapp is said to have permission to talk but the Icelandic player doesn't want to quit his Barcelona lifestyle. Who would? But then Harry could convince anybody that the Solent is every bit as glamorous as The Med. Ambitious Pompey are 7.4 a top six finish.

The Sun - O'Neill to seal Curtis deal - Midlands based Janine Self says West Brom have finally agreed a £9million deal to let Curtis Davies join Villa. Extra strength in the squad makes Villa better value at 5.1 a top six finish. Too many top players leaving makes West Brom a good lay at 4.4 for promotion.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mail - Joe v Jose - Another one of those leaks of a dressing room row stories, this time it's Joe Cole who is supposed to have fallen out with Jose Mourinho. Neil Ashton's story may well be right, and Cole clearly isn't happy about being used as a sub for 15 minutes, but it looks like a storm in a teacup rather than a serious fallout.

Daily Express - Beckham's freshening up - Bad luck for Chief Sports Writer John Dillon in Los Angeles, claiming an exclusive chat with Beckham in which he says playing in America will keep him fitter for England. By the time the paper was printed and in the shops we'd all seen film on breakfast TV of Becks getting crocked again.

The Sun - Jose Hits the Porto - Yesterday Ian McGarry said Chelsea wanted Jermaine Defoe, today it's Porto's winger Ricardo Quaresma. McGarry may be right but the Blues signing Quasimodo looks more likely!

Today's other stories:

Daily Mail - Owen back on target - rage at needless Dyer tackle - Martin Allen's sacking - Carling Cup and Champions League match reports

The Sun - Big Four all seeded for Euro draw - David Busst on Dyer injury - Clive Clarke heart attack horror - enger turns down Adriano deal - Carling Cup match reports - Reading want £6million for Shorey - Ole Solskjaer follow-up - Villa still want Curtis Davies after signing Zat Knight

Daily Express - Rafa's progress - match reports - Knight's dream move - Leicester want Megson - Hammers chase Adriano

Daily Star - Arsenal match reports - Finnan's Liverpool double vision - Hammers' house of horrors - Hyppia won't quit Kop - Paul McGrath is Zat Knight's Villa hero - Clive Clarke drama - Gary Megson and Neil Warnock vie for Leicester job.

Daily Mirror - Heartless Martin Allen sacking - match reports - Everton complete Yakubu deal - Blackburn UEFA Cup preview