New season of panel-beaters

Hodgson really stuck his neck on the block at the opening press conference ahead of qualification for France, saying that our participation was “guaranteed”.

With Slovenia, Scotland, Lithuania and Malta standing before us – the average FIFA ranking of that lot is 102 – the good news is that, if we can do the double over Slovakia, there is enough about this squad to ensure an appearance at the World Cup no sane fan wants to attend.

But l et’s not be qualification.

We were hoodwinked by Sven Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello and Hodgson.

They all rode a wave of popularity before it engulfed them when it mattered in tournament football.

Allardyce forged his reputation from making a silk purse from a sow’s ear.

And if he manages the same feat with the Three Lions crest on his blazer and this crop to call upon, he should be carried back from Moscow, shoulder high. f ooled by MANCHESTER CITY called out a Premier League panel to contest Sergio Aguero’s flying elbow (above) during the victory over West Ham.

It was a waste of time. The charge is one of the first this season and came as no surprise when it was upheld. It was brought because referee Andre Marriner feels there’s a case to answer, irrespective of the argument of whether he saw it clearly or not.

Anyway, so much for the clubs buying into the new tough regime.

Well, they claim they will. As long as the outcome of the Manchester derby isn’t at stake, eh?