Today's Papers / Top Dog / 06 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:

• 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:

We're all guilty of being too hasty to judge foreign imports and Michael Ballack's sudden emergence as Chelsea's driving force is a prime example. Written off as rubbish last season, he's now the "dog's Ballacks" and could save his manager's job if he keeps doing the business. And the same goes for red-hot Fernando Torres at Liverpool - big difference being he was a hit from day one. If only Rafa had played him regularly, we'd have a four-horse title race..


Cruft's:

The Sun - Terminatorr - Nice spin on the headline and a fine report from David Facey to reveal the growing love affair between Fernando Torres and the Anfield terraces. That's back-to-back hat-tricks for the super Spaniard - [1.08] in the Premier League top scorer market - who bids for a treble treble against Newcastle this weekend. Poor Kevin Keegan's timing continues to be way off.

Daily Mirror: Becks Will Win 100th Cap: This gets huge back page licks as England coach Fabio Capello says he will recall Golden Balls against France later this month - as long as he's fit and playing well. Capello's message came at a forum for England fans - many of whom adore the LA Galaxy star - so could well be nothing more than clever PR. Top Dogs reckons the proposed USA friendly in May is a more likely date for Becks' ton.


Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Torrment for Yanks - Liverpool fans' half-time protests against the club's American owners gets the back page treatment in the Currant. There is no let up in their disgust at the club being dragged through the public gutter. And whatever you think of that - and Top Dog remains indifferent - you must admire the way the scousers wait until the interval so they don't distract the team. The 4-0 thumping West Ham puts Liverpool ([1.53]) in pole position for fourth spot.

The Mirror - Juande: We matched Gunners' glory night - Darren Lewis, along with the Sun's Pat Sheehan, produces an amazing preview of Spurs' Uefa Cup clash with PSV. If Juande Ramos seriously thinks their Carling Cup final win over Chelsea was equal to Arsenal's Champions League destruction of AC Milan he's lost the plot and should be sectioned with Gazza. Spurs are [1.66] to beat Dutch league leaders PSV ([6.0]) this evening.

The Mirror - Lamps and Ballack lead the Blues on Greek cruise - This gets the nod over the others because of the brilliant headline which just about sums up why Chelsea are still on course for the Treble ([40.0]) barely a week after Roman's empire was said to be crumbling. Avram Grant appears to have got Ballack and Lampard playing well together - which is more than the Special One managed.

Daily Express: Premier power thrills Rooney - The Manchester United and England star insists says he will never quit the Premier League for foreign shores. That's sums up what our league means now compared with those days in the late 80s and early 90s when English clubs constantly feared their best players would be poached by Europe's big-spending giants. Long may it continue.

Daily Mail: Absolutely Fabregas: Beaten AC Milan ace Kaka shook Cesc Fabregas' hand on Tuesday and gave him a pat on the back in what many papers believe to be a changing of the world football guard. Bit early to say Fabregas is the planet's best - what about Ronaldo? - but he is certainly snapping at Kaka's heels. Arsenal are [1.6] to beat Wigan on Sunday with the draw [4.1].


Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mirror - Sexy signings can Curb any danger - Alan Nixon is good for revealing news but when it comes to comment he should steer well clear. His colour piece at Anfield starts well by telling us that Steve Sidwell is on his way to Upton Park before falling flat by claiming that Chelsea's former Reading playmaker is a signing that could keep Curbs in the job. Don't believe it.

Daily Mail: Big Sam bites back: The headline suggests Sam Allardyce has ripped into Damien Duff's claims Newcastle were not fit enough under him. He should have done because it's total tosh, especially coming from Duff, who has rarely been fit in three years. Yet all sacked Sam says is that 'mental fatigue could be the problem'. You can back Newcastle [8.0] to keep a clean sheet at Anfield this weekend.


Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Lampions League - Torrment for Yanks - Fabio lifeline for Becks - £25ma year and Becks wins the Shanghai-Hong Kong Cup - Balls of fire - Stop making excuses Kev - Vogel in vogue - Lita feel loan-ly -Matt calls off op -Terminatorr - Fabregas destined to become Arsenal legend - Fletcher bobs back -You'll get stuck in our mud - We're just as good as Arsenal - Courting disaster - Ryan's express

Daily Express - It's three and easy - Premier power thrills Rooney - Cesc is a 'legend'- Greeks slain by Roman army - Becks race for fitness - Boss keeps all plates spinning - Even this can't stop the hurt - Ron aims to break Law - Torres treble lifts pressure - I'll reveal Hermann monster
- Ramos is above pa - Allardyce rejects Duff information - Ugly Andy rallies to winning cause

Daily Star - Frank fires Euro romp - Torres treble lift for Rafa - Fabio: Becks in line for ton - The farce show - Fernando treble top - Coleman's home blankers - Leroy's fair Copp - Jim goes off Pompey ace - Derby want second opinion on Barnes knee injury - Fab makes Kaka look a slacker - I'll stay for life - Ron delay full English

Daily Mirror - Becks will win 100th cap - Three Lions - and Kop go fourth - Rool the world, Fab as good as Kaka - Excuses rile Sam - Flamini close to new deal - Reds go Fer it in four-goal blast - Lita's let to Addicks - Drogba £24m Milan target- Coleman kept in dark by Camp - Sexy signings can Curb any danger - Kia's Tevez rap - Jaunde: We matched Gunners glory night

Daily Mail - Treble top - Absolutely Fabregas - Torres hits hat-trick to boost Rafa- Rooney: I won't leave England - Chelsea have right idea - Tax puts Wembley final - Capello: I'll give Becks 100th cap - Farewell to the man who united Sheffield - The F Factor - Hats of to Torres - On a winner with Tim, Moyes - Spurs' job is child's play for Ramos- Megson'smen have Sporting chance - Field of dreams

Tags: Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Fernando Torres, Football Betting, Headlines, Michael Ballack, The Star, The Sun, Today's Papers