Steven Gerrard needs to keep a low profile right now

[dagmarsablob]

I think that flaunting wealth earned by doing something you have just publicly failed at is an insult to millions of us who mistakenly believed that England might have just made a ripple this time.

And yes I AM more than a tiny bit jealous

Sorry it's the Mail!

Excellent post Jelly. Some people just always expect England to win or come close to winning the World Cup/European Cup. It is incredibly unlikely to happen, and 'fans' (in inverted commas because I don't think they are true fans) set themselves up for a huge disappointment from the word go. And then get into a rage about it.

It's an unrealistic expectation. England fans should hope the team go far, but expect it to, no. Especially this year when everyone but everyone said they would be lucky to get out of the group stage.

I also agree with Jelly. And I don't think that the England players take the failure to progress lightly, either.

Is anyone genuinely saying that they don't try or that they don't care? Because I truly don't think that it's the case.

Some of the teams that have progressed have also put in average performances. Many of the teams currently in the knock-out stage might not have progressed if they had been in a different group.

Is it only England supporters who want to punish their team for not winning or do fans in other countries do the same, I wonder?

Jelly I take your point but big events like the World Cup, the Olympics, Wimbledon etc do attract fairweather fans. The expectation of winning anything may well have been unrealistic but the expectation of giving the 'fans' a sense of pride, a bit of entertainment, abiding memories and so on to me is greater. If you can remember Italy 1990 you will know what I mean. I daresay the first thing that England squad did when they were knocked out was head off on holiday. Haven't got a problem with that.

Just for the record I personally am not in a 'rage'. I just think the England footballers should go off and spend their money, have their family time, enjoy their holidays, recharge their depleted energy, buy a new Lamborghini, cheat on their wife or whatever else they choose to do in private when so many people who had high hopes - unrealistic or otherwise are struggling to keep afloat and could have done with a boost.

I think that flaunting wealth earned by doing something you have just publicly failed at

Huh, what? What? What? Have you ever even heard of football, prior to this year?

You realise that we don't keep Steven Gerrard in a cupboard between international football tournaments? He is the team captain for Liverpool. Now Liverpool isn't my team, and my team isn't even in the Premier League, so I'm not an expert here, but Liverpool are really bloody good.

In the 2013-2014 season, they nearly won the league. Manchester United only beat them by two points, and as they were part of the top three, they were automatically into the UEFA Champions League. For those of you who only care during the World Cup, that means that Liverpool FC did well enough to play internationally.

Gerrard is not holidaying on the proceeds of something he "failed at" (I don't consider qualifying for the World Cup failure either), he is holidaying on the proceeds on having done pretty well in his normal job.

Oh my god OP this is actually the most ridiculous thread I have ever read on MN. They tried their best, it didn't pan out. How on earth can you say they didn't try their best, you have no idea of their personal motivations or states of mind. They don't owe you, me, anyone anything. Your thinking is totally batty.

LadyG Apparently in Columbia they are murdered by people like me.

Tilly Your last sentence is fair comment - my original post was a bit spur of the moment and could have been worded better.

Ha, Gerrard fucked it up for Liverpool too!

Still, at least Gerrard seems a nice guy. Liverpool are only in the Champions League because of Suarez. Lovely man.

Southpaws the most ridiculous thread I have ever read on MN Really?

No, I think I'm with southpaws. I can kind of understand where people who are concerned that a caterpillar has contaminated their entire kitchen and it needs bleaching and all the towels thrown out is coming from, I can kind of understand why someone might feel they have to pee on a teddy bear - but this thread is genuinely quite bizarre

Yes, really, other than troll silliness. Utter madness to claim that a group of blokes kicking a ball around owe us anything and should go into hiding because they have been deemed to have failed. I don't think any of them stood up before the World Cup and promised to bring home the trophy, did they?? And if anyones happiness/morale/motivation comes from how successful England are in the World Cup then more fool them.

Glad I'm not alone Thurlow, am genuinely shocked at who has the time in their lives to get worked up over a bloke on his hols!

Apparently in Columbia they are murdered

OK. Well, that is being rather extreme. I'm sure you aren't contemplating murder, OP.

I do think we get a bit too invested in winning stuff, though. I'm still enjoying the football even though I have shifted allegiance and am preparing to be disappointed yet again Winning is great but it's not the be all and end all. I mean, I aways enjoyed Wimbedon even before the advent of Andy Murray.

You won't begrudge him a holiday if he doesn't retain his title, will you?

dagmarsablob I was just thinking it was a good thing you weren't Welsh. Ryan Giggs was one of the most brilliant players to never play in the World Cup.

Wales hasn't qualified since 1958. (Yes, I did check wiki.)