Today's Papers / Top Dog / 20 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:

Lots of guesswork going on today about Fabio Capello's first squad and who his captain will be for the friendly in France next week. The one thing that's clear is that nobody - apart from Capello himself - knows! Most go for a race between John Terry and Steven Gerrard, some reckons it's David Beckham who will get his 100th cap and wear the armband in recognition. The Mirror's Martin Lipton thinks Gareth Barry might get the armband while Brian Woolnough in the Star tips Frank Lampard. Confusion reigns - just as it did two minutes from time at White Hart Lane when Robbie Keane's late goal caused some hasty match report rewriting. Typical of the efforts was Tony Banks in the Express who began 'The charge levelled against Avram Grant's Chelsea is that they cannot win the big games. Last night that charge stuck again'. Suspect the second sentence was about to read 'This proved it's not true.'! At least Top Dog was happy having recommended laying Chelsea.

Cruft's:

Daily Star - Wenger lines up Perrin - David Woods confirms that Mathieu Flamini and his agents are still dodging talks about a new contract to give the midfield man room to move for nothing in the summer, with Juventus favourites to get him. He says Arsenal have identified St Etienne skipper Loic Perrin as a potential replacement. With quotes from chairman Peter Hill-Wood the story looks well sourced

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - The Loan Rangers - Matt Barlow takes an in-depth look at how Hull have exploited the loan system to build a team that has entered the play-off race. Championship leaders Stoke have also borrowed the best bits of the squad that's currently top of the table. Interesting stuff. Hull are [4.4] for promotion, Stoke are [1.91] to keep their lead by beating Blackpool on Saturday and a generous [3.65] to win the division..

Daily Mail - Spotlight on Aliou after St Andrew's police raid - Charles Sale digs behind yesterday's police raid on Birmingham. He claims the transfer they are investigating is Aliou Cisse's move from Brum to Portsmouth nearly four years ago

Daily Star - Kenny hails Kop kings - Kenny Dalglish reckons the link-up between Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard is why Liverpool's fortunes have changed - and that can help them upset Manchester United on Sunday. Liverpool are [4.5] to win at Old Trafford, and [3.35] to get a draw

The Sun - Kam 'n get it - Andrew Dillon claims Juande Ramos has agreed a £4.5million deal for Espanyol's goalkeeper Carlos Kameni and is talking personal terms. Bad news for Paul Robinson after letting in another four last night

The Sun - Sears has got Lottee like Cottee - Good piece with West Ham's Academy director Tony Carr on the potential of new Upton Park hero Freddie Sears. He reckons he's got three more top kids about to roll off the production line.

Daily Mirror - Keane goes mental - Good headline, but the story is a bit more thoughtful! Roy Keane has called in former England psychologist Bill Beswick to help his players deal with the pressure of the relegation fight. The Black Cats remain [3.75] to go down

Dog' s Dinner:

Daily Star - Gerro brain drain - Brian Woolnough implies that Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of Fabio Capello's list of captaincy candidates because he's too thick, but doesn't quite have the guts to say so!

The Sun and others - Simply the Best - The United reports have all done their sums and say 33 goals in a season for Ronaldo means he's beaten 'the record 32 for a winger' set by George Best in 1968. They are ignoring how Ronaldo often plays as an extra striker rather than out wide, especially away from home. Taking free kicks and penalties helps skew the figures too.

The Sun - Why I have no problems with Fab's rules - Outspoken Blackburn star David Bentley becomes the Sun's latest big name columnist, but Top Dog hopes they'll get some fresher stuff from him to justify their money than this fairly dreary first offering

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - Ron-derful for Becks - Captain Marvel Ronaldo - Av's boys blow hot and Cole - Simply the Best - Ridsdale court joy - Derby cash boost

Daily Express - He's better than Best - Capello sparks captaincy race - Keane late show lights up Lane - Captain Ron in full command - Toon first, England second for Owen - Wheater could get shock call for senior side - Liverpool run-in 'fun' says Clichy - Dawn raid at Blues in Cisse probe

Daily Star - The old Ron-two - Robie late show lands Blues blow - Captain Ron shows he's best by far - Blues hit by Keane's late blast - Hodgson wants end to travel sicknes - Owenly goal is staying up - Adams wants Glen Johnson in England squad

Daily Mirror - Captain Marvel - Gus blast hits Blues - Simply the Best - Blues are Robbied in 8-goal thriller - Still Juan hell of a job to do - Gerrard the one-cap(tain) wonder - Roeder backs drink-drive Matty, but fans say he's pants

Daily Mail - Grant's White Hart pain - Drogba can still snarl but Blues lack bite - Ronaldo's on the rampage - Fergie's warning makes it hard for Davies - Beckham is fit for England purpose - Swansea No. 2 arrested after 'Rovers player headbutted'

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