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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WC
Straight question. Why are you espousing the same club mantra so pointedly recently?
HH
Sorry, predictive text:
For returning read disturbing.
For Mr. Gladwell read Mr. Lawell. Sorry did not check before sending.
Phil Mac should train his guns on our Club….
Ray
Glasgow was always in Lanarkshire in our primary school geography maps.
For me it was underlined when I first saw Lanarkshire House near George Square. South Frerixk Street maybe.
Deserved punishment for using a Prohibited Name as per 1986 Insolvency Act.
They’d soon stop the ‘same club’ pish then!
An Teach Solais on 25th March 2016 5:49 pm
I think I prefer Gladwell-:))
Winning Captains,
The inaction of the Club has a lot of people worried.
Phil’s revelations, and they are revelations, can’t be easily ignored, nor brushed aside.
We have been told for years to wait for the right time, patience is really running thin.
If the Club is relying on everyone moving on with Old Firm games they are making a mistake.
It has been said that Celtic will ultimately be the biggest loser from Rangers liquidation.
Celtic seem to be making this a real possibility.
Lack of action is one thing, lack of communication is another, I am loosing faith that the Board is interested in anything other than the bottom line.
Many will not tolerate being taken for mugs, by the SFA is one thing, by Celtic is unacceptable.
Some will simply welcome the return of Sevco(I know they aren’t returning)
If the Board are playing the long game/waiting for the right moment, frankly they have waited too long.
And there have been plenty of opportunities, they have simply not taken them, e.g. backing Res.12 fully from the start and posing the questions directly to the SFA rather than via the Requisitioners. The first time we played Sevco, when they were granted a license, many opportunities to address the new club issue.
AreallyfrustratedTIMjustwaitingforsomeleadershipfrommyclub
An Teach Solais: There will be a few of us at the match later.
Email me at dublin2016@mail.com if you fancy meeting up.
How was the Lost Leaders parade? Just watching RTÉ News now to see if they cover it.
Pretty sure I saw that there will be a programme about the Easter Rising on BBC Alba tonight for those interested in Irish history.
WiTS, you are a Star indeed, thanks for the tip, got it a 12’s.
An early birthday present for me:-)
Too young to have seen the Dutch master. Zidane is the best I have seen.
Doc
Patience was the mantra of the Resolutioners and to be fair most were prepared to stand by them and relent in the face of our frustrations.
On another matter altogether you ever see that film about the Bismarck?
“Being a Celtic supporter is not always easy, but it’s always worthwhile”.
AN TEACH SOLAIS on 25TH MARCH 2016 5:49 PM…
Did the same on phils comments page today…I must read back before posting :)
WC
Have you got a smile as wide as the Clyde at Greenock writing these clues, Im barking like a scrapyard dog
Cheers for the tip WITS……didn’t manage to get a bet on myself but had text a mate and he stuck a few quid on it each way and he timed it well to get 16-1.
Will tell him he owes you a pint tomorrow!
Winning Captains, patience when met with a deadline causes frustration, will we make the decline, will we miss it, is it a real deadline?
Which can lead to anger. I get the SFA are the problem, but 42 clubs are allowing them to get away with so much, the continuation myth, the EUFA license, the referees, so much corruption.
My interest lies with Celtic so there I vent my spleen.
Celtic seem to me to be mismanaging the whole affair, from my point of view.
Mostly because I simply don’t know what is going on.
We are being shafted, and the club is complicit, whether by inaction or by design.
Cryptic as ever though:-)
Yes I have seen the movie.
WC…
Are we waiting for the Turpitz moment!
That would be Tirpitz…one sunk one to go as they said.
What will be, will be.
Kick em hard.
There is no need for any other Song whenever that shower are in Any place.
Noonelikesthemandiagree.csc
So, according to Phil’s latest piece, PL has advised DD that everything will be right as a trivet once ‘Old Firm’ games ‘resume’.
Will he be proved right?
Is he such a conceited fool that he is prepared to gamble like this … ?
VIP
Been a season ticket holder since the Hampden season. I will always be a supporter but the acceptance of subservience to an SFA Sevco cabal means no more season ticket for me. Why don’t we just bend over and let them do it right?
Deadline? Wot Deadline!
Just an old fox changing gear.
Used to love that Glasgow band. Highly regarded but underrated outside the city.
End Games was their name. Check their biggest hit.
WC
Cryptic as always,
Endgames “Waiting for another chance.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDtFKafcgSQ
Enough of the cryptic nonsense!!!! Put us all out of our misery and tell us whats going on…..
End Games, We Feel Good(Futures looking Bright)?
The Deadline BRTH alluded to for any reporting of misdeeds to UEFA.
Ghuys did Kieran tierney play with Scotland last night?HH
What is the stars.
I’m just catching up on racing results.
Had five quid on your tip at 16/1 with Hills this morning.
After Yorkhill and Vatour at Cheltenham, I reckon that’s a right few pints I owe you.
Thank you.
a heel mark on the ace of diamonds
frannyb67 on 25th March 2016 7:01 pm
Ghuys did Kieran tierney play with Scotland last night?HH
—————————
Nope, looks like only Mulgrew played
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35308793
frannyb67
Kieran was not in the squad to play the Czech Republic, but is/was in the squad to play Denmark on Tuesday. Hasn’t recovered from injury yet but WGS is giving him time to see if he will be available. Might be little more than a meet up for the Bhoy.
Surely the club or the guy’s behind Res12 let us know the clubs thinking about Res12 before season ticket renewals.
DOC on 25TH MARCH 2016 6:07 PM
Winning Captains,
The inaction of the Club has a lot of people worried.
When are folk going to accept that Celtic simply wish that the whole business is forgotten about allowing it to get back to, if it ever really went away, cosy Old Firm relationship with THEM.
Having been complicit in itfor over a century, why should Celtic stop now?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-5/#comments
AIDEN BHOY on 25TH MARCH 2016 7:24 PM
Surely the club or the guy’s behind Res12 let us know the clubs thinking about Res12 before season ticket renewals.
Regarding possible impact on season ticket renewals, PL was doing cartwheels when BDO were given leave to appeal. Thus kicking things into the long grass for at least one renewal date.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-5/#comment-2800669
PL’s Miss Havisham act really gives me the Pip. What the Dickens is going on?
glendalystonsils
Similar to what happened to Middlesbrough. A tale of two cities…
So, after all the hoo-haa about no Sevco players in the Scotland squad, seems like Sevco are playing tomorrow.
Hmmmmmm………
Winnings Captain
Res12 is beginning to feel to me like the LNS commission ended up.
Before the LNS judgement, that day Paul67 posted this was the day our fathers and grandfathers has been waiting on. What happened we got shafted, in my opinion Paul67 is getting played again . Hopefully I’m wrong .
The huddle,Celtic Mac cheers ghuys HH