Duracell

It's not an argument worth your time. Semi-final and a final in the last two tournaments, and some fans will do anything to move the goalposts to make the achievement seem lesser somehow.
We played the best team in the tournament yesterday and we didn't lose. The team played for each other and defended resolutely. We also bombarded Italy early on, but inevitably, they grew into the occasion.
People bang on about Southgate having this incredible bench, which he does, but how useful is it having loads of wingers? You can't play them all at once. I totally get the argument that bringing them on earlier might have asked more questions of Italy, but that's still up for debate. Our defending kept us in a game against a much better side.
And Italy are better than us. While Chiesa has been outstanding, he is not significantly better than our attacking players, so that is not why they are better. Bonucci and Chiellini are fantastic defenders, but they conceded more goals than Stones and Maguire, who were imperious throughout the tournament. So that is not why they are better.
Italy are better because they can control the ball. We can't. In 2018 Modric was the difference, and last night it was Jorginho. These are the players we just can't seem to produce in this country, for whatever reason.
Qatar will play out much the same. But that doesn't mean we can't win it.

It's not an argument worth your time. Semi-final and a final in the last two tournaments, and some fans will do anything to move the goalposts to make the achievement seem lesser somehow.
We played the best team in the tournament yesterday and we didn't lose. The team played for each other and defended resolutely. We also bombarded Italy early on, but inevitably, they grew into the occasion.
People bang on about Southgate having this incredible bench, which he does, but how useful is it having loads of wingers? You can't play them all at once. I totally get the argument that bringing them on earlier might have asked more questions of Italy, but that's still up for debate. Our defending kept us in a game against a much better side.
And Italy are better than us. While Chiesa has been outstanding, he is not significantly better than our attacking players, so that is not why they are better. Bonucci and Chiellini are fantastic defenders, but they conceded more goals than Stones and Maguire, who were imperious throughout the tournament. So that is not why they are better.
Italy are better because they can control the ball. We can't. In 2018 Modric was the difference, and last night it was Jorginho. These are the players we just can't seem to produce in this country, for whatever reason.
Qatar will play out much the same. But that doesn't mean we can't win it.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

There is nothing wrong with telling it like it is. By some distance, Italy were the best team all tournament and absolutely deserved to win it.
And at the same time, by some distance, this is the best England side in half a century.
Telling it like it is not happening with some people. For them, they are framing the narrative of last night as if it’s akin to not qualifying in 2008.
Being second best to the best team in Europe - and, when the South American teams are not on top, that also means the world too - is not a failure. 

There is nothing wrong with telling it like it is. By some distance, Italy were the best team all tournament and absolutely deserved to win it.
And at the same time, by some distance, this is the best England side in half a century.
Telling it like it is not happening with some people. For them, they are framing the narrative of last night as if it’s akin to not qualifying in 2008.
Being second best to the best team in Europe - and, when the South American teams are not on top, that also means the world too - is not a failure. 

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

You are so right. 
I am one of those who for a while shook my head when I saw the early selections. 
Then I suddenly had the massive revelation that perhaps I, a balding office worker, might not know the intricacies of team management at the very top level, nor see and hear the players on a daily basis. 
I don't have training badges, no one is likely to pay me for my opinion and I have not taken England to a major final. 
So guess what? 
Last night I just sat down and watched. 
Italy are a better side than us at the moment but our future looks bright. 
I thought we did blooming well including Mr Southgate. 
There are some very bad losers about. 

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Disappointed, but not surprised, to see some crawling out of the woodwork to criticise the manager and the team after the defeat.
Where were you when we beat the Germans?
Where were you when we thrashed Ukraine?
Where we you as we only conceded one goal in the build up to the final?
Where were you when we reached our first final in a generation?
I cannot stomach talk about “negative tactics” from fans who are just waiting for us to fail and revel in “I told you so’s.” The most crushing part of this defeat is that this team had the potential to silence these types, but instead they are basking in it.
duck off.

Local journalism flourishes when news outlets can afford to have bright, hard-working journalists with decent resources. Those people aren't working for local newspapers anymore, if they are journalists at all.
Supporting your local paper is only half the problem. Even if circulation of the DET were to increase dramatically, targeted advertising on line still delivers much more bang for your buck. 
Hard to see this ever-downward spiral reversing. 
I would defend the Athletic actually, I have been meaning to re-subscribe because Conway genuinely puts stuff out there about us that you can't get anywhere else. He's often the first to break stories too.

I know in the grand scheme of things this isn’t that big of a deal, but it’s so long since we’ve heard any sort of vaguely positive new (I’d really like to give the club my money, but even something as normal as buying a season ticket is out of reach) that my overwhelming reaction to this is “meh.” That’s a mark of how much we lurch from one off-field shenanigan to the next.

PS hope that no local journalists perusing the forum think I am attacking their intellect or work ethic! Far from it. I'm saying they would have a much wider circle of colleagues if local journalism was held in the same esteem it was 25+ years ago.

Local journalism flourishes when news outlets can afford to have bright, hard-working journalists with decent resources. Those people aren't working for local newspapers anymore, if they are journalists at all.
Supporting your local paper is only half the problem. Even if circulation of the DET were to increase dramatically, targeted advertising on line still delivers much more bang for your buck. 
Hard to see this ever-downward spiral reversing. 
I would defend the Athletic actually, I have been meaning to re-subscribe because Conway genuinely puts stuff out there about us that you can't get anywhere else. He's often the first to break stories too.

PS hope that no local journalists perusing the forum think I am attacking their intellect or work ethic! Far from it. I'm saying they would have a much wider circle of colleagues if local journalism was held in the same esteem it was 25+ years ago.

PS hope that no local journalists perusing the forum think I am attacking their intellect or work ethic! Far from it. I'm saying they would have a much wider circle of colleagues if local journalism was held in the same esteem it was 25+ years ago.

Local journalism flourishes when news outlets can afford to have bright, hard-working journalists with decent resources. Those people aren't working for local newspapers anymore, if they are journalists at all.
Supporting your local paper is only half the problem. Even if circulation of the DET were to increase dramatically, targeted advertising on line still delivers much more bang for your buck. 
Hard to see this ever-downward spiral reversing. 
I would defend the Athletic actually, I have been meaning to re-subscribe because Conway genuinely puts stuff out there about us that you can't get anywhere else. He's often the first to break stories too.