John Terry's verdict on Ronaldinho arrival is...inconclusive

/ Top Dog / 29 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:

John Terry treated a handful of Fleet Street reporters to a game of six-a-side at Chelsea's Cobham training ground to promote a shaving company and says he'd welcome Ronaldinho at Stamford Bridge. The Mail's Matt Lawton, who broke the story of Chelsea's interest in the Barcelona superstar, says Terry told him a deal could be done. Others reckons Chelsea's skipper thinks it very unlikely! Meanwhile with the deadline two days away there's lots of transfer gossip but nothing that looks a really strong story

Cruft's:

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Owen months from top form - The Mail gives the biggest show to Sam Allardyce's quotes that Michael Owen will need much more time to be back to his best. Owen is 9.4 to be top English goalscorer in the Premiership, longer odds than Jermaine Defoe who might not get picked more than once in a blue moon for Spurs.

Daily Express/The Sun - Curbs fury - The Sun and Express reacted quickest to the news of Kieron Dyer's broken leg, although the Mirror also get a picture on the back page of earlier editions. West Ham could spend more money to compensate for losing him but are now as much as 10.5 a top six finish

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mirror - Rodgers in, Allen out at Leicester - The Mirror says Chelsea's little known reserve coach Brendan Rodgers is being looked at by Milan Mandaric as a possible replacement to Martin Allen. Leicester's volatile chairman clearly wants a change of boss but seems to be working round the long list just as he did in the summer when he interviewed the football world and his wife before giving Allen the job. Allen's days look numbered but who replaces him is anybody's guess. Meanwhile the confusion makes Leicester poor value at only 4 to be promoted.

Daily Mirror - Nick Nic - The Mirror's Manchester David McDonnell man claims an exclusive that United and City are both trying to sign Nicolas Anelka. Treat with caution as McDonnell was under pressure to come up with an exclusive of his own after being beaten by The Sun over Ole Solskjaer's retirement yesterday. United could get him because he wants Champions League but may not bid, City probably couldn't get him even if they did.

The Sun - SWAP - Ian McGarry says Chelsea and Spurs are haggling over a swap deal that would take Jermaine Defoe to Stamford Bridge and bring Shaun Wright-Phillips to White Hart Lane. A good headline, but read the bit that turns to page 51 and even McGarry admits the deal probably won't happen

Today's other stories:

Daily Mail - We're going Brazil nuts - Carling Cup match reports - Lee Hughes interview - Allardyce says Owen is months from top form

The Sun - Wenger 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 - Terry says United lack fight - Wenger's Adriano snub - Lee Hughes signing - Fergie wants Anelka

Daily Star - Crouch a Euro star - Wenger on Fabregas - match reports - John Terry on the title chase - Solskjaer's new job at United

Daily Mirror - Crouch goals - Dyer's broken leg - more Carling Cup match reports - Lee Hughes interview