Today's Papers / Top Dog / 20 November 2007 / Leave a comment Free £25 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:

Top Dog can distinctly remember Steve McClaren telling us about a bright, new and different era when he took over England. Here we are two years later and the papers are still debating whether a half-fit David Beckham should start in a crucial game, who should play in goal, and whether Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can fit in the same midfield.

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - Fall guy Robbo - The Mail's Matt Lawton reveals that Paul Robinson had a nightmare training session yesterday while Scott Carson was on form. The right keeper is a big call for England boss McClaren, especially after Robbo's blunder for the second goal in Russia. The Mail develop the argument with Nigel Martyn analysing the two keepers in detail. An England clean sheet is [1.92]

Daily Mirror - Drogba off to Beijing - Didier Drogba's response to his last strop was to start scoring goals left, right and centre, but his next row with Chelsea could be more serious. John Cross reports the big centre forward wants to play for Ivory Coast in the Olympics as well as the African Cup of Nations. Drogba is [9.6] to be Premier League top scorer

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - I want the title says Benitez - Rafa Benitez reveals the object of all his rotation: he wants to win the Premier League title, and he claims: "We are in a better position to do that this season than before". If you believe him you can back the Reds at an inviting [11].

The Sun - There are too many foreign stars like me - Manchester City's Croatian defender Vedran Corluka spells out what he thinks is England's problem: too many foreigners in the Premier League. "It may mean people like me can't play here but you have to make that decision," he says. Presumably he'd want his contract paid up before going home, though!

Daily Express - Saviour or Passenger? - Tony Banks gets to the heart of England's other big selection dilemma. Has old Golden Balls got one more big night in him? Or does he just belong in LA showbiz games now? England [1.6] to win at Wembley, [3.5] the draw and a shock Croatia win is [9.6].

Daily Star - Mart's my Special One - Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner on why he hopes England will qualify - he can't bear the thought of losing Martin O'Neill. Lerner says Villa can achieve anything if O'Neill's in charge. They are [4.4] a top six finish this season.

Daily Mail - Why I let Bruce go by Sullivan - Midlands man Neil Moxley gets Birmingham owner David Sullivan to explain why they didn't stop Steve Bruce going to Wigan. Interesting detail on the get out clauses in Bruce's contract.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - Two games to save your job - Being bottom of the League with a new owner means any manager's job is in danger, but there's no other real justification for the Star's claim that Billy Davies is on his way out of Derby. And none of the staff reporters will put their name to the story. George Scott is a name used on freelance copy. They are [1.09] relegation favourites.

Daily Mirror - Harry snubs Blues - Alan Nixon says both Harry Redknapp and Paul Jewell have snubbed approaches to become new Birmingham boss. But the Mirror have missed the news carried by several papers that Martin Jol has definitely turned them down.

Today's other stories:

The Sun - I'll stop Mac going down pan - Wigan's £11m Bruce cost - Terry Venables column

Daily Express - Crouch: I'll save Macca from axe - Makele granted an easy life - Qualifying will be no holiday says Cole - Alan Curbishley column - Fabregas wants to stay at Arsenal for good - Jol turns down Birmingham job

Daily Star - I'm more than a robot says Crouch - Mac's team gamble - I owe Tal a trip to Clacton says Joe Cole - Eduardo's warning to England - Makele's easy ride - Bruce gets a £15m fighting fund

Daily Mirror - Robbo and Becks sweat it out - Crouch on the couch - Eduardo out to gun down English pals - Eastwood: Wales will target rusty Jens - St Andrews in crisis as Bruce goes - Benitez backs off Bayern - Give Ron the European player gong says Kaka

Daily Mail - Becks gives me head start - Jamie Redknapp on how England should line up - Croatia striker struck by virus - Profile of Slaven Bilic

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