Today's Papers / Top Dog / 19 March 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:

The FA's new chief Lord Triesman unveiled the plan to get respect for referees yesterday. It will never work while Sir Alex is still top of the managerial tree. He's busy setting the agenda for tonight's Old Trafford clash with Bolton this morning, painting Gary Megson's side as a bunch of kickers, and putting pressure on the officials in the way he's done for years. 'Respecting referees has to happen from the top to the bottom in the sport', says Lord Triesman. If he can get Fergie onside for that campaign he can do anything!

Cruft's:

The Sun - Don't let this hitman stamp on our title - Just to show how powerful a few words from Fergie can be, the Sun have gone right over the top in their treatment of the story. They've dug up the Opta stats that say Kevin Davies has committed more fouls than any other Premier League player for the last four years. But the significance is that it all goes to put more pressure on tonight's referee and makes [5.6] a sending off an interesting bet, as well as [3.3] there are five yellow cards or more.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Theo's back and Becks is close too - Neil Ashton says Theo Walcott will be the surprise name when Fabio Capello names his initial 30 man squad for next week's England friendly in France. Walcott was left out of Stuart Pearce's Under 21 squad when it was named yesterday and impressed Capello's number two Franco Baldini in the Champions League win over AC Milan. Baldini is also said to be recommending picking David Beckham after seeing him in America.

Daily Mail - Michael is still the master, he just needs some help - Columnist Jamie Redknapp talks with authority about Michael Owen and why the goals haven't been flowing. He says Owen is only lacking the service to get himself back on target. Newcastle need it to happen in time to justify odds of [1.95] to finally get a win under Kevin Keegan against Fulham

Daily Mail - Incredible sulks - Good piece by Neil Moxley and Colin Young which opens up the debate about Obafemi Martins' strop at being taken off on Monday night into what goes on in a player's mind to make him throw a tantrum.

Daily Express - McLeish: Home is where it counts - Alex McLeish has set Birmingham the target of staying unbeaten at home for the rest of the season as the key to avoiding relegation. They have lost only once so far, to Chelsea, in eight games at St Andrew's since he took over, and are currently [4.4] to go down

The Sun - Beadz Meanz Goalz - Gary Payne has spotted that Emmanuel Adebayor has not scored a goal in the Premier League since having his trademark braids trimmed off last month. The big Togo striker has been nicknamed 'Samson' as a result. Bad news for whoever backed him as top Premier League goalscorer when he was scoring for fun at [1.95]! He's now out to [7.6] in a market where Cristiano Ronaldo's 22 League goals makes him clear [1.8] favourite.

Daily Mirror - Terry's just like Zidane says Grant - Avram Grant is talking up his skipper John Terry as the key man in the last few laps of the title race. But the bigger question is whether Grant will pick the right team for tonight's clash at Tottenham after mucking it up at Wembley. Chelsea are [2.12] and Top Dog is tempted to lay it - all the more so as Juande Ramos tells the Mirror he's told his players that anybody who think they can rest on their Wembley laurels will be out in the summer. It's [4.2] the home win, [3.45] the draw.

Daily Mirror - Hleb met Inter fixer - John Cross reveals that Alexander Hleb is caught up in allegations that he met agents for Inter Milan a few hours before Arsenal's win against AC in the San Siro. More problems to undermine the Gunners who are [6.6] for the Premier League title

Daily Star - Keano's in for Diego - Signs of Sunderland's ambition as North East man Ian Murtagh reports that Roy Keane will try to buy Diego Forlan in the summer if the Black Cats avoid the drop. They are [3.7] to go down at the moment.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mirror - Drink driving in his underwear on his day off - The Mirror reveals that Norwich midfielder Matty Pattison has been checked into the Sporting Chance clinic after allegedly being nicked because he was driving into training so drunk he didn't realise it was his day off! Amusing story (unless you are Pattison whose nickname is apparently 'Party'), but it shouldn't be back page lead on the day Chelsea and Arsenal are both playing

Daily Star - You can't rule us out of title race - Who is saying that? Chelsea? Arsenal? No it's Rafa Benitez who reckons his Liverpool team, eight points behind United having played a game more, could still finish top of the pile. It's [80] if you believe him.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Becks fit for duty - If I was axed I'd still be Rom's pal says Grant - Spurs in the dock - Sob on the Tyne - Fraizer the Eraser

Daily Express - Fergie: Stop the bruiser - My main man JT's on fire says Grant - Talismanic trio are key for Arsenal - Steele not giving up on FA Cup dream - Martins sounds Toon battle cry - FA hope £200m will bring

Daily Star - FA Chief vows to stop ref rants - Rom will always be my pal says Av - My boys are bully proof says Fergie - Blues owe it all to JT - Owen fights to be number one in Fab world - Martins: I'll cry harder for Kev
Daily Mirror - Fergie warns it's round two with Davies - We won't squeak says Ferguson - We'll fight like lions says Carvalho - Tears and tantrums - Colli wobbles end for Mick

Daily Mail - Don't mess it up Avram - We daren't take Bolton lightly insists Sir Alex - Super Campbell lifts Hull - FA demand respect for refs

Tags: Alexs Ferguson comments, Hleb transfer, Kevin Davies fouls