Today's Papers / Dan Fitch / 04 February 2008 / 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:

It's going to be honeymoon week for Fabio Capello with a media looking to start a new regime full of positives. Michael Owen's first league goal since October is hailed as just the tonic for the new England boss, and he's already as short as [1.48] to get his reign off to a win against Switzerland on Wednesday night. He's soon learning the reality of managing the national team, though. Gabby Agbonlahor's out injured, as are Ledley King and Emile Heskey (although that could be considered good news!)

Cruft's:

The Sun - Defoe called in for Villa's crock - All the papers reported Gabby Agbonlahor's injury at Fulham that forced Villa's striker to pull out of the England squad. Only the Sun made a big deal of Jermain Defoe being called up to replace him. A couple of days after his move from Spurs that was a big enough story to warrant more attention.

Daily Express - Shoot-outs put on spot - The Express reveals a plan to end the penalty shoot-out agonies that FIFA are considering. You have a three penalties shoot-out (which goes to sudden death), at the end of 90 minutes and the score from that will count if subsequent extra time ends level. Interesting stuff. Although will it ever happen? Probably not.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Star - Court threat in Benji row - Benjani was Portsmouth's top scorer but they couldn't wait to sell him, then Manchester City agreed to pay around £10million and are now trying to send him back again. Except Sven Goran Eriksson reckons he WOULD like to keep the striker at Eastlands. Confused? If you are imagine, how Benjani feels!

Daily Mirror - Cap idol - Steven Gerrard is a certainty to be Fabio Capello's first England captain but the Mirror's Martin Lipton says the long term job is still up for grabs. Capello wants to look at the leading contenders at close quarters before he makes his mind up. You can still back Gerrard at [1.19] to wear the armband on Wednesday.

Daily Mirror - Savaged - As if losing two points to a goal by a striker called Villa wasn't bad enough for Birmingham fans, their fallen idol Robbie Savage then warns that Blues will go down if they keep playing with fear. Into the bottom three after Saturday's draw at home to doomed Derby, Birmingham are now [2.56] to go down

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Express - Fabio cracks the whip - The Express tells everybody what they want to hear about how Fabio Capello will do double training sessions and marathon fitness tests. Top Dog doesn't believe it - Capello will know enough sports science to be aware that especially the Villa and Newcastle players will need a light day or there will be injuries everywhere.

Today's other headlines:
The Sun -Owe yes he can - Gab KO'd - Woody's Boro dig - Bullard laughs off punch-up to KO Villa - Rio dishes out United title warning - Quiverpool - 28 page Super Goals pull-out

Daily Express - Owen's back and buzzing - Wenger boys gain mental edge - Keegan's party put on hold by Huth - Big-hitting Bullard gives O'Neill a bloody nose - Mind the gap warns Anelka

Daily Star - Owen's flying - Gabi's crying - The Huth hurts for Kev - United players must turn on style says Giggs - Bull's High - Not so Baird as Jim fights back - Tinkerman Rafa living on the edge - We won't let title hopes dive says Rio - 20 page Seriously Football pull-out

Daily Mirror - Owen's Fab for you - Gabby's out - Huth caves in on Kev - City must buy Benjani - Jimmy Bullet - Wenger in salute to New Henry Adebayor - 20 page Football Mania pull-out - Stan Collymore column

Daily Mail - A goal at last, but not enough for Kev - Capello to rotate skippers - Woodgate: Spurs match my ambition - Blistering Bullard - Forest's Agogo the Ghana hero - Benjani row could end in court - All rosy for Kirkland on the cabbage patch - Munich anniversary special

Tags: Benjani transfer, Fabio Capello, football betting, Jermaine Defoe