Defining Cruyff is not easy but there are some objective facts to assist: three times European Champion, three times Ballon d’Or winner, voted Europe’s Player of the Century in 1999, and third place in the World’s Player of the Century at the same time.
On the field, the most damming criticism of him is that he wasn’t Pele or Maradona, both of whom won World Cups, but neither changed the direction of travel in the game as Cruyff did. Pele’s Brazil seemed out of sight as they strutted their stuff at the 1970 World Cup. By 1974 the Dutch, with Cruyff pulling all the strings, had tactically moved the game on a generation. It would be decades before Brazil won the tournament again.
The Dutch know all this and, rightly, place Johan at the pinnacle of the game, but there was more going on in the Netherlands at the time. Feyenoord beat Cruyff and Ajax to the European Cup by 12 months as a generation of players matured together.
While the Netherlands took hosts Argentina to extra time in the 1978 World Cup final, Cruyff was watching on TV. Of course they would have won had he played, but that they came so close without him is a testament to the rest of his Dutch generation, forever in his shadow, but great nonetheless.
So would the Dutch revolution have happened without him? Something would have happened, Luxemburg would not have beaten the Netherlands in the 1970s, as they did in the 60s, but it would have been a revolution you might not have noticed. Ajax’ European Cup adventures may have ended with the 1-3 home defeat to Benfica in the 1969 quarter final. Feyenoord may not have edged extra time in the final the following season.
Allied to his skill, speed and strength, Cruyff opened the eyes of all who played with and against him. After Cruyff, opponents knew the old rules didn’t apply anymore.
Yesterday’s story in the Guardian, citing “sources at a major Premier League club” would signal the end of the last pretence of meritocracy in football, where the most wealthy will only play each other in European competition.
Resist of wither like Miss Havisham.
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Some serious stuff on here this PM and rightly so, but…seen big Judith on the weather just now? Wooooofffftttt!
JimmyNotPaul
Agreed
Paul67 is quiet on this.
As Celtic supporters, we are entitled to the truth on where our club stands regarding the corrupt SFA and the new club Sevco.
Will our board challenge the cheating ?
They need to let us know before ST renewal time
Tontine Tim @ 6:26
I can’t believe it’s taken more than 30′ for anyone to compliment ( or even remark upon) on that wee vignette.
Kwality, mhan …
VIP
HT
Lovely heartfelt post bud.
History….and you were there to see it:)
HH
Mags 6.22
Who decides fit an proper ?
Not Spl but would you consider oilgarch Roman A. fit n propa (sic)
Do you think all on the Spl bored are fit n proper
Just asking
Hamilton Tim,
Every sentiment you expressed in that post resonates with me. I couldn’t get up to Dublin this weekend, I would have loved to meet up with the CQN Brigade but watching the Army & Enda Kenny would leave me cold.
I didn’t mind missing that.
I hope to be there on the real 100 year Anniversary on the 24th April for The Citizen’s Commemoration.
Auldheid
Re jJ suggesting pl voted for convicted kibg as fit and proper.I think thats for those needin telt.!!
I am sure one of his earlier scrolls mentuoned that pl voted against.
Black is white
Up is down
Left is right
Squinty meejah.obfuscation and confusion emanates from him
Squinty thinkin for the hun hordes as the feacal shower is turnin into a torrential faecal downpour In the run up to only rhe 2nd ever meeting
HH
Old wounds are hard to heal and being a Michael Collins man I feel that he was betrayed and that civil war is and always will be an open wound
Auldheid said: ‘ If we are to get change at the SFA then I can think of no one right now who is in a better position and with the motivation to achieve it than PL. Can you?’ – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-41/#comments
With all due respect (and I genuinely mean that, to someone who has – rightly – become a bit of a hero to many of us) … Who you you mean by ‘we’ and what can you tell us – with any confidence – about the true ‘motivation’ of PL … ?
VIP
Corkcelt
Since I was about 15 I knew that Easter weekend in 2016 there was only one place I’d want to be.
The hoisting of the flags, the tour by an 82 year old Reublican around the main sites of the Rising and Mary Lou’s speech at Glasnevin yesterday, made it all worthwhile.
The Fools, the fools…..
HT
Brilliant, reading that I nearly believedi I was there
Chuffed you & the family had a great time
You you … ?
Try ‘do you’ instead…
(Predictive text + 2nd glass of rioja to blame) …
Gerryfaethebrig on 28th March 2016 7:04 pm
Who decides fit an proper ?
The SFA apparently.
Not Spl but would you consider oilgarch Roman A. fit n propa (sic)
I dont know. Was he a convicted criminal?
Do you think all on the Spl bored are fit n proper.
I think being convicted of fraud, embezzlement, perjury, tax evasion and stealing just preclude you from running a football club that has been “convicted” of fraud, embezzlement, perjury, tax evasion and stealing. Just my opinion though Im sure others have their.
Just asking
ok. What about you answering your own questions now?
An Tearmann. 7.09.
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
In my previous post about J.J. that’s really what I was trying to say. Lol.
No way, in my opinion, is that guy one of us.
Hail Hail.
just=should
From the celtsarehere Twitter.
MAR
28
For Celtic PLC, will Resolution 12 be their Labour Party IndyRef moment?
If you thought the above headline signalled a party political blogcast, rest easy – this is instead about a lesson from history.
For most of my lifetime, the Scottish political scene has been a two-horse race. There was a brief period before 1979 in which the Scottish National Party was securing around 30% of the vote but, for decades, Labour and the Conservatives had dominated the vote with the majority of seats going to Labour.
Having lived through the Margaret Thatcher years, I saw support for the Tories evaporate and Labour secure what seemed an unassailable position of political supremacy.
But the two graphics posted tell a remarkable story: from 56 Westminster MPs in 2001 to just one in 2015; from a party that was able to lead a Holyrood administration for the first eight years of the Scottish parliament to one facing predictions of a near wipe-out in just over six weeks time.
The details of Scotland’s changing political landscape and the complex issues are various but one common accusation remains: that Labour thought Scotland would always vote Labour, regardless of its message or policies, because Scotland always HAD voted Labour.
Political allegiance is usually more complex than simply assessing lists of candidates and policies. For many, it is tribal, sentimental, to do with family traditions, even “in the blood”.
Many of those who abandoned Labour did so with a heavy heart. “I didn’t leave Labour; Labour left me”, was a common defensive cry from those facing accusations of disloyalty – even treachery – giving succour to their political enemies. The very need to explain exposed a deep-felt sense of anguish – sometimes guilt – in abandoning the party that had once represented their parents’ and grandparent’s interests when no one else would.
But, for huge numbers of those who believed in a set of values, the party’s shift to accommodate modernism and “new realities” represented a betrayal – and the rational conclusion that if the party no longer held true to its founding principles and ideals, then it was no longer worthy of support.
And yet this logical outcome was something that the party’s leaders, political strategists and communications professionals apparently believed would never happen.
It beggars belief that a party that could be so strategically successful in its campaigning in the Scottish Independence Referendum could at the same time finally exhaust the patience of those who had long doubted their political integrity.
But the reality is as stark and sobering an example as it is possible to get of the folly of taking people for granted. Labour’s tactics, communications and cooperation with parties it claimed to oppose was for many the final nail in its coffin.
Yet there is room for suspicion that Celtic’s directors and chief executives are similarly complacent.
While many, if not most, Scottish football supporters deem the Scottish Football Association to be corrupt, flying in the face of its own rules and the principles of fair play in order to maintain an establishment club in the Premiership, Celtic have stood by.
As the team, players and fans were cheated, Celtic at no time formally complained or protested publicly.
As a new club was entered into the bottom division – one which did not meet SFA criteria for membership, depriving qualified applicants a place – Celtic approved. And, infamously, they took no part in preventing the Ibrox Newco being admitted to one of the top two divisions, leaving the fight for integrity to the laudable actions of Turnbull Hutton.
Raith Rovers leading the way where Celtic apparently feared to tread.
And now we have Resolution 12, which seems almost certain to fail, and on which the club could have acted years ago.
And, for all this, they expect continued support – primarily with cash – from supporters they no longer defend, appear to care for or even represent.
So what is Celtic? A club that plays in the same colours at the same ground as the one graced by Tully, Johnstone, McGrain, Burns and Larsson? Its continuity as the entity founded by Brother walfrid is in no more doubt than that of the Labour party of Keir Hardy.
But it’s values can no longer be seen as being in any way consistent with those that once bonded together a “Celtic family”. Celtic fans are being asked to support a club that no longer values fair play, the communities from which it has gained its support or playing football for the fans in a way to thrill and inspire.
And without those values, does the name, strip and ground alone entitle the club to the continuing support of people who have agonised over its decline?
When Labour found common cause with Tories and LibDems to oppose Scottish independence, the sharing of a platform with a Tory-LibDem coalition, as well as some cynical tactics, were too much for even its most faithful supporters.
But you could easily replace Labour’s Jim Murphy, John McTernan and Blair McDougall with Dermot Desmond, Ian Bankier and Peter Lawwell, standing with the SFA and the Ibrox regime, led by a convicted criminal.
It appears that they do so in the belief that a promise here, a discount there and a “heartfelt plea for unity” are all that are needed to keep the tills ringing for yet another season; employing naïve hope in the aftermath of crushing experience.
But when trust has been damaged beyond repair, can supporters Keep the Faith?
16 ROADS – CELTIC ÜBER ALLES… on 28TH MARCH 2016 6:58 PM
It’s possible that PL has carte blanche to run the club whatever way he sees fit – just so long as the books are balanced.
Simplistic as it seems, the above is probably bang on.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-43/#comments
Reading back I see that many are finally realising just how much Peter Lawell is damaging Walfrid’s ethos.
About time lads.
HT
Amehhh
Mags
I need a step for a hint, don’t even listen to myself…. What was my question ?
I thought I was answering your question….. Are they not all not fit or proper ?
Or ahemmmm even
TBJ made an excellent point earlier.
Everyone talking about letting UEFA what you think about them. The GB showed them what they thought and were absolutely berated on here for doing so.
You can’t have it both ways folks.
*know*
BT
You’re excluded! :-)
Gerryfaethebrig on 28th March 2016 7:25 pm
Got some example questions for you first….
Who decides fit an proper ?
Not Spl but would you consider oilgarch Roman A. fit n propa (sic)
Do you think all on the Spl bored are fit n proper
Just asking
Hamiltontim:
Glad you and Minx had an enjoyable trip, you both had your own individual moments and together with all those that gathered.
Myself and some mates are heading over 29th April for the weekend, staying in The Gresham, I will be in touch to find out the nearest Church and times of Masses.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
In the past Celtic has claimed to keep an eye and an ear on what fans are thinking.
Given the content of many of today’s posts, how long can PL or the Board avoid making some kind of unambiguous announcement regarding corruption and Res 12.
I am calling it a night.
I honestly feel that regarding SFA corruption, without the open support of Celtic, we are flogging the deadest of horses.
Ms McGill
Don’t confuse me…. Am easily confused
Wales and N Iron games on BBC Sky channels
Quonno
The Celtic board sit in the company of the rich and the powerful. Unfortunately, many of these ‘Tims’ have the same feelings about Celtic that Dermot Desmond does, we’re something to mention in company, something to impress those around the dinner table.
Whilst the After Eights are being offered, Celtic supporters are doing zip slides and food drives to help those in need.
Will DD make an appearance at the semi final?
Home from a wonderful weekend in Dublin, huge thanks to Clogher and Almore for their hospitality and the Saturday hootenanny, Many thanks too to all the CQN’rs for their company over the weekend. The walking tour by the sprightly older gent on Saturday was special.
HH
Lennybhoy
I know a few who are waiting until the actual anniversary but for me it was all about Easter. I’m sure you’ll have a brilliant time.
Thanks Hamilton Tim for your lovely post
Over the next ten years there are a number of 100 year commemorations here including the War of Independence, The Treaty and The Civil War.
Over the last few weeks a great deal more has become known about the role of women and indeed the considerable role of non Catholics in The Rising. As we saw on the Walking Tour, despite the Government’s pretence, the room where The Proclamation was signed lies vacant with broken windows.
I spoke to a friend last night who told me that his grandfather fought with The Citizen’s Army but was left in poverty after the Treaty. The recent release of pension records have confirmed that fact.
I think we will see many uncomfortable questions as the anniversaries approach.
Will anything change? I honestly don’t know, I doubt it but here’s hoping.
I am delighted you both enjoyed your trip and thank-you for coming.
It was humbling to see so many CQNers on Saturday at the night in the company of Irish Celts and members of The Chairains GAA Club. That wouldn’t have been possible without the Comments pages of CQN and Almore’s flair and common sense.
HH
Gary Caldwell’s Wigan now unbeaten in 18 games….how long until….???
CQN is far from the most militant of blogs
Gary67
I’m guessing no.