Today's Papers / Top Dog / 06 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.

• 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:

Welcome to England, Fabio - and the idea that you can keep your team a secret. Yes, the players won't know for sure until their new manager names his starting XI this afternoon, but they all had a good guess after yesterday's training session. And surprise, surprise, the 'secret' workout didn't take long to get leaked to the papers. Michael Owen, who is [3.7] to score at some time, fears he's been left out, with Wayne Rooney [2.54] up front and Joe Cole [4.5] tucked in behind him. The back four's a surprise too with Micah Richards likely to be dumped and West Ham's Matthew Upson in. The complete team as predicted from training yesterday is James; Brown, Ferdinand, Upson, A. Cole; Bentley, Hargreaves, Gerrard, Young; J. Cole; Rooney. Top Dog will be fascinated to see if Fleet Street has got it right or wrong.

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - Transfer talk has put me off my game admits Berbatov - A bonus for the press pack covering Northern Ireland's international tonight was the chance to talk to Dimitar Berbatov yesterday away from the policing of the Spurs press office. And the big Bulgarian was surprisingly honest, admitting that all the transfer speculation had affected his performances. 'My head has not always been right', he says. Good honest interview. Bulgaria are [2.54] to win in Belfast, Tottenham with a fully focused striker are [2.64] to win the Carling Cup

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Star- Keane: I'll be here for new gaffer - Not Roy Keane but Robbie, promising that whoever eventually gets the Republic of Ireland job can at least look forward to having the Tottenham striker to get him some goals. The search for the next Irish boss is no clearer despite promises it will be sorted out in a week to ten days. Giovanni Trapattoni remains [2.44] favourite, Terry Venables second at [4.6], with Billy Davies [5.4]. Top Dog still wouldn't rule out [40.0] shot Sam Allardyce

Daily Mirror - James is England number one says Redknapp - Portsmouth's keeper is now as short as [1.05] to be Capello's choice in goal tonight, and that's a good choice says his club boss Harry Redknapp.

The Sun - Beckham: I wasn't fit - Back in LA, David Beckham admits that Fabio Capello wasn't wrong in deciding his former Real Madrid star wouldn't be fit enough for international football. 'There are a lot of players who have played 15 Premier League games in the last two months while I haven't played since December,' he admits

The Sun - We'll do a Croatia on you - Philippe Senderos puts a question mark over all the upbeat messages coming from Capello. He reckons England will be under pressure to perform again and that could help Switzerland relax and produce their best in the same way Croatia did at Wembley last year. The Swiss are as long as [13.0] to score a Wembley win.

The Sun - Jewell in Benji rage - Derby are down and doomed regardless, but you can't blame Paul Jewell for getting upset that Benjani is completing a transfer to Manchester City four days after the window was supposed to be shut. Meanwhile he's been told by the Premier League that he can't cancel Danny Mills' loan despite the player being injured for the rest of the season because 'rules are rules'.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - Munich remembered picture - Whoever dressed in a modern Manchester United shirt the statue of Duncan Edwards that stands in his home town of Dudley either had no taste or was working for sponsors AIG. The Star have even less taste in choosing to print a picture of it.

Daily Mirror - Chosen one? - Presumably somebody important at the Mirror had the idea to create a picture with a shaft of light at Wembley shining on to Fabio Capello. Nobody was brave enough to say: 'That will look daft'. The art department of done their best but the back page that results looks really naff.

Daily Mirror - Revealed: Capello's 11 point plan for success - Hope England's team have a better night than the Mirror's production people had yesterday. They got John Cross to write an 'exclusive' about Capello's new hard-line regime which says exactly the same thing the Mail did 24 hours earlier.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Owen fears cap KO - Lions not lambs - I'll be so proud to lead out England says Gerrard - Milner and Theo fire Psycho Euro bid - Munich tribute

Daily Express - Owen faces Fabio snub - Work is key for Capello - Senderos wants to copy Croatia - Milner gets the job done - Norway the ideal target for Davies - Jewell rap for Scudamore - Munich Anniversary tribute - Euro glory would be ideal tribute says Rooney

Daily Star - He's not the Messiah - Owen snub - Hard man Capello cuts up rough - Milner in at the double - We'll rule in Europe for Busby babes says Rooney - City Ben deal done - Davies final go

Daily Mirror - I'm not a miracle worker says Capello - Is Owen the axed one? - If they cannot do it with Fab they will never do it - Theo grand for Pearce - Benjani in derby debut - Rooney: Euro glory would be best way to honour Busby Babes

Daily Mail - Owen fears worst - Fabio, man of mystery - Bentley poised to start - Band stand for Gerrard - Milner steps up - Feature on Chelsea ladies' team - Day four of Munich remembered seriesack to school - On their best behaviour - Benjani cut price deal back on - Pearce eager to learn - Munich remembered day three

Tags: England football betting, Fabio capello, Michael Owen