Today's Papers / Top Dog / 27 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:

I don't know exactly how Fabio Capello's English lessons are getting on, but this morning he'll need to translate the phrase ' The honeymoon is over'. England's dismal display in Paris was a sharp reminder of how much there is to put right and Capello knows it now. Biggest problem remains in goal where David James gave a flashback to Euro 2004 conceding a needless penalty. Top Dog liked the Mirror's headline 'Daveja Vu', on a back page using almost identical pictures of both last night and four years ago. England are [1.61] favourites to finish top of Group Six when the World Cup qualifying gets underway. Nothing last night to suggest that's worth backing, and definitely not the [12.0] to end up lifting the trophy in South Africa!

Crufts:

Daily Star - Grant's eyeing a major Ass-et - David Woods again, this time with news that Chelsea are chasing Barcelona' Gai Assulin. Woods has a record of getting stories linked to super agent Pini Zahavi, and guess who represents the 16-year-old rising star of Israeli football?

Daily Star - Ref Riley is axed - David Woods reveals that Mike Riley's punishment for failing to send off Ashley Cole and not reporting Chelsea's protests is to be taken off the Premier League list. Riley will be at Charlton v Wolves on Saturday then Carlisle v Nottingham Forest three days later. There's [4.1] a red card at The Valley on offer if you're quick

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Star - Nev still in wings - Gary Neville admits he might have to wait until next season to return to Manchester United's team. He plays for the reserves again tonight but isn't sure he'll be ready for the big games. Has he seen Wes Brown play? He'll be back!

Daily Mirror/Daily Express - Barca target Benitez - Merseyside men David Maddock and Paul Joyce report that Rafa Benitez is a target for Barcelona to replace Frank Rijkaard in the summer. This is a sign of more behind the scenes politics at Anfield. Liverpool are [1.85] to win Sunday's Merseyside derby and Benitez needs that to keep his position strong

Daily Express - I won't trip over starting block - Nicolas Anelka has been talking in France about his Chelsea future now Didier Drogba is back from Africa and insists he's happy to be part of a squad rather than guaranteed a starting place. Evidence of last Sunday is that playing both of them would destroy most Premier League defences. Will Avram Grant do that against Middlesbrough? Blues are [1.34] the home win, but still [5.5] to catch Manchester United for the title

Daily Express - Javier 'just naïve' - Harry Harris hears Javier Mascherano's agent Kia Joorabchian trying to defend his man over the Old Trafford red card.

Daily Mail - Fabio, I will battle to be leader again - As well as being a top Sky pundit, Jamie Redknapp also runs 'Icons' magazine, a high class glossy for the rich and famous. The latest issue has an interview with John Terry confirming his desire to get the armband back. After Rio Ferdinand's performance last night as the only English player to emerge with any credit he could have a wait.

Dog' s Dinner:

Daily Star - Moyes in rap at refs - David Moyes says respect is a two-way street and that refs and the FA must give clubs more respect before they ask for the same thing in return. Interesting piece - except the quotes come from a three days old radio interview!

The Sun - Chelsea on Ron alert - Antony Kastrinakis is a regular contributor to Dog's Dinner, this time rehashing his old story that Chelsea are going to sign Ronaldinho. He reckons Barcelona will now accept only £12million for him.

Daily Mirror - I did try to say sorry - The Mirror get Birmingham's Martin Taylor to respond to their own Eduardo story. Everybody else has moved on

Today's Other Headlines:

The Sun - De Ja Vu! - I'll go ton and on vows Becks - Rust in peace as Goldenballs loses shine - Burley's got way to Cro - Capello lumbered with the team that time forgot

Daily Express - Becks' fail of the century - FA get tough over Mascherano - Fabio gets a rude awakening - Freddy's dream night for Wales

Daily Star - Franck you and goodnight - Fabio given a French lesson - Terry vow to regain top job - Gold has no shine for Becks - Lux so easy for Freddy

Daily Mirror - Daveja Vu - A load of Ribish - Beckham's century but no French polish - Tosh given Fred alert

Daily Mail - Calamity! - James in spot of bother - Capello must think again after digging a hole for Gerrard - Boost for Burley

Tags: David Beckham, David James, Fabio Capello, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Today's Papers, Top Dog