I spent a lot of time last season defending Stefan Johansen. His goals, goals created and interceptions stats were incredible. He needed defending because apart from when he was scoring or creating goals, lots of his work was done off the ball. Those who take note of off the ball work, his direct opponents, voted him Player of the Year (those who follow the ball, or action on TV, miss lots).
This season’s been different, none of the markers he put down a year earlier have been met. I don’t have enough information to explain why this is, so I’m not going to absolve the player from responsibility, but what we got from him on his return to Norway on international duty was the talking part of a good game:
“I am dissatisfied with the way I was playing”
“But in recent months I have felt my rhythm is better and that my body is good”
Perhaps more importantly:
“We are going to get those two trophies [league and Scottish Cup]. We have decided to do that.”
You very occasionally hear players talk in those terms – “deciding” to win. I remember writing up that Fraser Forster “decided” to make the England World Cup squad. He made his mind up, put the vagaries of form and fortune out of his head.
The commitment from Fraser in the year-or-so before the 2014 World Cup was enormous. He worked harder than any Celtic player. Enormously harder than some. That’s how you decide something which isn’t actually your decision.
Stefan has a lot of work to do to get back to where he was a year ago. Only he can decide if the time for talking off the park is over.
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Bobby,
Cruyff played during the Gunter Netzer era ;-)
Johan Cruyff rip. In my top 5 all time best.
e-mail from Celtic about the semi . But who is the opposition? No mention of the team Cetic will play.
HAPPY HOOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to
LUCY and her fine RC Dad!!!!!
Just noticed that Radovan Karadzic’s Cv featured a stint as team psychologist for Red Star Belgrade.
Explains a lot…
away in a manger….
Was at the game in Amsterdam in ’71. 3-0 Ajax. Great team and Cruyff was outstanding. Knew then that he would become a World star.
We managed a 1-0 win at Hampden, Jinky scored, I think. Tell you what, that was a great result to beat that Ajax team por cierto.
DUBAIBHOY
Aye,true. But to be honest,he burned brightly then out like a light.
Certainly by comparison.
But hammering England 3-0 in 71 or 72 is still a bloody fine memory for me!
BobbyM
“Puskas his Finney ”
For me (and I think most others in Scotland) , `Puskas had his De Stefano` was probably the more general view.
From memory, I would say Puskas was seen as the best in the world by supporters but, gradually, the Media explained the less obvious qualities of the great Alfredo and he was then seen as the Greatest (in Europe). Pele, of course, was the undisputed greatest but he came a wee bit after Puskas who was at the height of his career around1954 .
Incidentally, there were rumours at the time of the Hungarian Revolution the Ferenc was coming to Celtic!
JJ
POR CIERTO
Good to have you around,old bean!
100% correct,btw.
HH
Jungle Jim,
He has never blown me away but I like keeping it positive :)
He’s no midfield maestro but the situation with him reminds me of times when lenny was playing. You don’t always see what he brings to the team until he’s not there.
Ma old pars mate says similar regarding Bert Paton.
HH.
Ps. I’m classing situations similar. Not quality of player.
JUNGLE JIM HS
Aye,I know. But they played in the same team. Illustrating my point would be difficult for two players who complimented each other rather than drew comparison.
I think you can pretty much put down everything won by Holland and Ajax as well as by Spain and Barcelona since the late 80s as Cruyff-influenced.
Incredible player and coach. Great football man.
The greatest footballer I’ve ever seen was Johan cruyff never took my eyes off him at Celtic park in 1982 in fact I missed one of the Ajax goals because of
A football legend
Thanks for wonderful memories Johan cruyff
I always talk about it till this Was a pleasure to have your company that might
Rest in peace
Johan cruyff
Everything you need to know bout Dublin this weekend
http://www.thejournal.ie/easter-rising-whats-happening-this-weekend-2676540-Mar2016/?utm_source=facebook_short
yeneverknowCsc:-)
My random fact about Johan – the Dutch team were sponsored by Adidas (the ole 3 stripes) but Cruyff’s tops only ever had 2! Genius RIP.
RIP Johan Cruyff, if you haven’t read Graham Hunter’s book about Barca you should. Graham Hunter puts Barca’s success today down to Cruyff, he set the standards and put La Masia on the road to it’s success.
He was a sharp cookie as well, when he went to Feyenoord they had attendances of about 10k. Cruyff knew they couldn’t afford him but made a deal that any crowd over 10k he would share 50/50 with the club. Attendances averaged 40k that year..
Johan Cruyff RIP
God rest Johan Cruyff – just a great great player and an inovator, on and off the park – he was always a favourite of mine and like Jinky, Bestie, Charlton, Moore, Law, RIP.
I don`t really know who was the greatest player I have seen. I did see Pele play for Santos in a League game ( I was in Sao Paulo via the Merchant Navy) and he was truly amazing,
My older brother thought Puskas was the best and at school we were told Stanley Matthews was the best player in the world with the same confidence that we were told Paris was the capital of France!
Cruyff was definitely a great as were Eusebio, Garrincha, Beckenbauer ,Zidane ,di Stefano and quite a few others, I guess. I was thinking that fewer `great` players emerge now as the game has evolved into much more of a team game with loads of technology involved but Messi and Ronaldo kind of disprove that theory!
Always a good conversation in the pub.
JJ
Adam Johnson 6 years
Pretend to be A.A Milne`s bear?
One word answer and it would be found in the pharmacy ( according to the setter of the quiz.).
Anyone?
Come on, Bobby, I am relying on you!
JJ
JUNGLE JIM HOT SMOKED on 24TH MARCH 2016 1:27 PM
I don`t really know who was the greatest player I have seen. ….Cruyff was definitely a great as were Eusebio, Garrincha, Beckenbauer ,Zidane….
——-
Being a good bit younger than most on here (:-)) – I can’t remember most of these other than on the telly – did see Cruyff at Celtic Park, though.
The one you mentioned that sticks out for me is Zidane. I remember when I first saw him – I thought he looked like a big, clumsy guy. Don’t think I caller that right!!!
Watching Zidane was like watching a ballet – beautiful, fluid movement, and caressed the ball. Saw a great documentary which just followed him – mostly in slow motion – a work of art.
Have a look at this – hope it works- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3qxjmdvnd8
HH
BGFC
Johan Cruyff RIP. For some it was Maradona, for some Best, for others Pele. We had the privilege of Jimmy Johnstone and Kenny Dalglish, but for me the greatest that ever was and ever will be was Cruyff.
Like many on here I remember the 2-2 game in 1982 against Ajax, including an older but still brilliant Johan Cruyff. At one point he took the ball in his own area and beat three or four of our defenders with the most unbelievable close control to play the ball out of danger. Lesser men would have blootered it out of the park. The word genius understates his brilliance.
I still say that was the greatest game I’ve ever seen that Celtic did not win.
Archie Macpherson summed it up perfectly in the highlights programme later that night when he said it was a match that should have graced the European Cup final itself.
Johan Cruyff RIP..
One of the true greats.Remember seeing an interview on Spanish tele where he stated that he grew up wanting to be Haas Wilkes ( Dutch winger who played for Inter and Valencia). Apparently Johan’s father waxed long and often re how great Wilkes was and Johan wanted to win similar esteem from his father..The mad mental Inter supporting old codger from down the valley also waxes lyrical re Haas Wilkes
A small foot note. I was offered £50 for my ticket going into that game in 1982. At that time that was about a weeks wages for me, but ten times that wouldn’t have made me part with it.
Compare and contrast Johan Cruyff and all of those other fitba legends we have been talking about with the no mark Adam Johnson who has just been jailed for 6 years for sexual offences with a young girl.
People like him, earning in excess of 3M per year, says a lot lot about our current societal values.
My God, back from the gym to find out the news about Johan Cruyff.
Such a footballer, supreme elegance. Just on the cusp of my love of football, I maybe missed his best years. Zidane would remind me of him in later years, albeit with more physicality.
The we have Adam Johnson…an overpaid footballer in the overhyped EPL, who has now a conviction for child sex offences.
The contrast could not be more stark.
Árd Macha
Remember switch off roaming apps in Dublin bhoys,use WIFI areas.
GerryBhoy,
Sorry just saw your post.
Great minds.. or Fools seldom…
Árd Macha.
Sad news!
Sandwiched among the many Legends I’ve had the privilege to have see in the flesh – from; Puskas/ di Stefano – through; Jinky/ Pele/ Beckenbauer – to today’s Messi.
A rare mistake(?) from JC – taking down our great TB in 1982.
https://youtu.be/woRYB2Svb2M
Johan Cruyff RIP.
JUNGLE JIM HOT SMOKED on 24TH MARCH 2016 1:31 PM
Honey
As a laxative
Honey bear ;)
HH
i don’t want to go…
Árd Macha on 24th March 2016 1:51 pm
Ha ha!
To show more about current societal values, SSN have just asked the warbling bread-man as “someone who identifies with exciting, attacking football” (FFS) about his opinions of Johan’s attributes.
They just can’t feck it up enough!
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on 24th March 2016 1:31 pm
Shampoo.
It’s usually Winning Captain’s lateral-thinking teasers that stump me.
Cruyff, Europe’s greatest ever player and up there with the worlds best (Maradona, Messi, Di Stefano, Pele).
As much an innovator as a player, the most important football person to walk the planet in the last 50 years.
GerryBhoy,
I hope at the very least the question was posed with the utmost respect!!!
I’ve stopped watching that dross.
It’s partially responsible for the decline of football and standards with its mega bucks!!
In my opinion of course.
Árd Macha
Just think of some of the players you can see some of Cruyff in. From Van Basten and Bergkamp to Messi and Iniesta.