Today's Papers / Top Dog / 14 May 2008 / Leave a comment

Betfair's newshound 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:

Cup Final week moves on and The Mirror's coverage is clever today. James Nursey was in Cardiff doing a shared interview with Robbie Fowler in which the former Liverpool legend blames David James for choosing to wear those horrible white suits in the infamous 'Spice Boys' final of 1996. Meanwhile, John Cross had an exclusive sit down with Portsmouth's goalkeeper who insisted he wasn't the man who committed football's most famous fashion crime. Pompey are massive [1.36] favourites to win the Cup, and [2.14] to keep a clean sheet. James looks certain to be fit despite missing the final day.

Crufts:

The Sun - You lied to me - Extracts from Didier Drogba's new book, on sale in France today, give a fascinating insight into Jose Mourinho's management. Drogba reveals he tried to set up a move to Milan in his early days at Chelsea and what happened when Mourinho found out.

Daily Mail - Pride of our Ally - The Mail are the one paper to give significant space to the UEFA Cup final. Odd that the others have treated as a Scottish event, given it's live on TV and will command a big audience. Andy Townsend's interview with his old ITV chum Ally McCoist makes good reading. Rangers look good value at [4.0] to win in 90 minutes and [2.62] to take the trophy

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Pay up or you'll kiss goodbye to Cesc - Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira delivers a damning verdict to his old boss Arsene Wenger on the potential break-up of the club's squad as others look to follow Mathieu Flamini for big pay days elsewhere. Worrying stuff for Gunners' fans.

The Sun - Gary's final fever - Many years ago all the papers produced West country editions but none of them do these days. So well done to the Sun who made use of their new printing presses to do a Bristol special as a one-off to give last night's play-off semi the full Premier League treatment. Andrew Dillon's match report makes good reading. City are now [2.24] to win the prize of promotion, though Hull remain [1.95] favourites.

Daily Mail - Drogba blast - More Drogba, this time pinched from an interview in French newspaper L'Equipe which was also done to promote his book. He says complacency in the last minutes of games with Aston Villa, Everton and Wigan - as well as Bolton on Sunday - cost eight points. Revenge is the aim in Moscow. Chelsea are [2.2] to lift the big old European Cup. United remain [1.82] favourites.

Daily Mail - Schwarzer is our man say Juventus - Claudio Ranieri has been quietly recruiting from the Premier League and Juventus say that Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will follow Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg by moving to Turin when his contract runs out. Bad news for Boro.

Daily Express - Kapo a £3m target for Bruce - Peace is slowly breaking out at Birmingham but there's still problems ahead for Alex McLeish. Steve Bruce will cherry pick the best of his old players for Wigan and is chasing former Juventus midfielder Olivier Kapo

Daily Star - Brown's 12 years of agony - Hull boss Phil Brown recalls that he's blown a 2-0 first leg play-off lead before when he was a player at Blackpool in 1996, losing the second game at home to Bradford. Watford are [3.45] to win in 90 minutes at the KC Stadium tonight. Hull are an incredibly short [1.09] to reach Wembley.

Dog' s Dinner:

The Sun - London's too noisy - More evidence of attempts by Arsenal stars to get away. Alexander Hleb's agent says his man wants to move because he's 'tired of the noisy and chaotic life in London.' He'll clearly be much happier living in traffic free, peaceful Milan.

Daily Mail - Hart and Robinson in keeper swap deal - Spurs are said to be lining up a bid for Manchester City's soon to be England goalkeeper Joe Hart. But why would anybody in charge of Manchester City agree to that? File under 'stories that won't happen'.

Today's Other Headlines:

The Sun - Keep white outta sight - Wemblee - Phil pain is Tigers gain - Ally's UEFA dream.

Daily Express - We threw title away says Drogba - Trundle is tops for City - Final shot suits Fowler - Cristiano is my guide says Utaka.

Daily Star - Wild Drog - Harry Redknapp interview - Utaka: I want to Ron riot - James made us look white stupid - We must keep Ashton says Rob Green - Evra revved up for glory - A nice pair of Bristols! - Walt: Let's win Scot prize.

Daily Mirror - Fergie will kop the lot says Roy Keane - Drog: We were too smug - Evra on the Champions League final - Smith aiming to upset the Advocaat - Vieira warns Wenger to splash the cash - A Wemb-Lee goal hero.

Daily Mail - Bristol City Trundle all the way to Wembley - Club by club review of the season - We're still motoring promises Evra - Zenit's racist fans cast shadow over final - Warnock so proud as Jagielka called up - Can Robbie add spice to final fling?

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