Today's Papers / Top Dog / 11 October 2007 / 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

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:

Michael Owen dominates the England coverage after hitting out at the North East whispering campaign suggesting he cares more about playing for his country than his club. There's clearly a rift with Sam Allardyce. Those who believe Owen's determination to prove a point will result in goals may be the punters who have piled into him being top English goalscorer in the Premier League- he has shortened to 3.65 favourite.

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - The McLaren master plan - England's pre-match planning to beat Russia last month was outstanding. Their post-match organisation however, was rubbish, as they left behind the tactics board which was filched by somebody on a dressing room tour and passed on to the Mail. They get columnist Jamie Redknapp to analyse it and it makes fascinating reading. Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry are on penalty duty. Bear that in mind when the To Score market opens.

Pedigree Chum:
Daily Express - Poom sweats on back injury - Frank Wiechula checks out the Estonia camp and finds first choice goalkeeper Mart Poom is a major doubt. He'll either miss the Wembley game or play in pain. Bending down to pick the ball out of the net won't help - an Estonia clean sheet is 19!

Daily Express - Kenny Miller on Scotland - The Express is the only paper to give significant space to the Scots - even though they are top of Group B after beating France twice and back to back wins over Ukraine and in Georgia would take them to the finals. They are still a healthy 4.2 to win Group B, 2.78 to qualify, and better than evens at 2.14 to win on Saturday.

Daily Mail - Captain crock - Steve McClaren could have had another big decision taken away from him. Should he rest John Terry against Estonia? He could have no choice as his skipper needs a scan on a knee injury. He could even miss the Russia trip - making the home side serious value on their plastic pitch at 3.25.

Daily Mail - Hiddink stays with Russia - Guus Hiddink signed a new two-year contract as Russian national manager yesterday to rule himself out of a move to Stamford Bridge. The Mail is the only paper to pick up on it today - surprising the Express aren't crowing because they forecast the move in an exclusive with Hiddink two weeks ago.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Express - Grant wants £100m Kaka - Harry Harris reckons Avram Grant has said he wants to buy AC Milan star Kaka. Top Dog would like to buy a Bentley and a new luxury kennel in the South of Spain. All three are equally unlikely. The story even quotes Kaka suggesting that if he ever went to England he'd want to join Manchester United or Arsenal.

Daily Mirror - Blues set to dump rebel Lamps - Frank Lampard was clearly unsettled by Jose Mourinho's departure but Martin Lipton's big back page exclusive that Chelsea will flog him to Real Madrid looks just too speculative.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Owen: I won't say sorry - Harry Redknapp column - Barry to give Lamps elbow - Mascherano wants new Liverpool contract - Chris Kamara column

Daily Express - Owen interview - Barry earns the right to be centre - Terry to undergo knee scan - Bryan Robson column - Bellamy wants to start - Geremi interview and profile

Daily Star - I'm not G-Owen to say sorry - Gareth will put Lamps in shade - Lassana Diarra interview

Daily Mirror - Owen rage at injury slurs - Ronaldo on World player of the year awards - Warnock holds no fear for Jordan - Bruce warns he won't quit Brum

Daily Mail - Owen's fit and fighting - Club v Country debate - Barry puts his Sven nightmare behind him - I can do an Owen says Bellamy - Mascherano backs Benitez rotation

Tags: Betfair's Top Dog, Euro 2008 betting, football betting, Michael Owen