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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Just spent a very pleasant morning with the Dublin Ambassador, WITS.
We watched two games in the Youth Tournament. Excellent standard.
Looking forward to the Aviva tonight.
Hope the Soldiers of the Rearguard have a great weekend.
Green Man
You might be right or wrong pal. But we all have to step back for the greater good sometimes. That doesn’t mean bolt or melt, just perhaps ignore those posts you don’t like.
HT
Why should i ignore it.
Its not difficult to see the subtext here.
Ive got family in Ireland…why should i put up with that sort of nonsense on CQN
Its unacceptable.
HH
TGM
Because, in my opinion, you’re giving others exactly what they desire most, a reaction.
Florida Bhoy on 25th March 2016 12:24 pm
Pure, positive energy, along with brilliance and world class skill is something you WILL read about in Scotland.
Not widespread though and certainly not on merit………in fact it’s reserved for Scotland’s newest senior club.
HT
Fair enough.
But i hope the subtext has been noted.
HH
Paul67
Is the club open to supporters who like rules adhered too without fear or favour, ie sport, or are they just supposed to accept the fraud that masquerades as sport.HH
TGM
Indeed it has mate.
“So because you judge it not to be racist…ive to concur? ”
Tgm,
I judge it not to be racist because it isn’t.
Saying you won’t ever go back to a place surely cannot be deemed racist?
CFC supporters in Ireland is not a myth,
There are hundreds of CFC supporters clubs throughout Ireland,
Thousands travel every season from Ireland to watch Celtic play,
To say CFC supporters in Ireland is a myth,is a myth.
Hail Hail
Geordie Munro
Lets agree to differ.
No worries.
HH
I don’t have a racist bone in my body – plus the fact that I am from Irish stock.
There are good and bad in all races, religions and creeds.
There are even good and bad posters, and probably good and bad postmen.
Mr Green Man I think ‘thou dost protest too much’ – I wonder why.
Sorry to read on here yesterday about the death of Garry Shandling.
His ‘Larry Sanders Show’s’ character Hank ‘hey now!’Kingsley is second only to Larry David’s George Costanza in the pantheon of great american sitcom characters, in my correct opinion.
Hank’s efforts to get Larry and his celebrity contacts to back his business venture were always hilarious.
They weren’t too keen on Hank’s revolving restaurant situated on the ground floor of a skyscraper.
A worse investment than Sevco!
GEORDIEMUNRO@1:27 – I remember saying that I would never go back into the Gents in the Central Station after getting hit in the eye with a toilet-roll, one of those nasty unforgiving IZAL ones – could I stand accused of being a toilet racist?
There was nothing underlying in my posts, it’s as I see/saw it,
Was Masty told to stop singing rebel songs in a pub in the republic? =yes
Do most people in the republic support the EPL? =yes
Is it a myth that all of the Republic of Ireland are Celtic supporters? =yes
I won’t be back in the republic?=no
Why? Because I didn’t like it.
Been to many places I’v not fancied and never went back , why? My choice.
The Easter weekend in Dublin is a Wee bit over the top? Only in my opinion, for what that’s worth.
Racist? Naaaa wrong guy.
Mr Pastry
Shakespeare as well…jeezo
Your talents are a joy to behold.
Like i said earlier…your political ideology is bereft.
I know what your game is.
But it wont work.
There you go….with no swearing as well:)
You are fooling nobody…but yourself.
HH
C;mon lads, give it a beak.
Oh, did any caring soul apply some balm to the poor old sacred sovereign will of the Scottish people after the doin’ it took yesterday??
fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight
right give me a second so i can laugh at that monarchist nonsense
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
if it had just said that they liked having lizzie as queen i wouldnt have given it a second look
but to start hitting us with caeser and the son of god patter in monarchy terms, what on earth is that guy smokin
right, back to it
fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight
Foghorn
I respect your ravings, but…
So you are saying that Monarchy is not a legitimate form of government?
So you are saying that Our Lord did not defer to Caesar what is his domain?
You are wrong on both counts.
Ah…The furious reversal of someone who has been found out.
Its all in the subtext.
The unwitting testimony of those who think they are clever.
Ha
BEATBHOY@1:23 – agree with all you say – must also mention Arty (Rip Torn) – I thought he was brilliant.
I remember him giving Larry some advice on one of Hank’s hairbrained schemes involving hom(Hank) two-timing a rich, bitchy and well-connected celebrity:
Arty to Larry urging him to intervene – “look Larry, if Hank’s dick get caught in a ringer, we’re all gonna get splattered”
RIP Gary Shandling
BIGBONES8867 SUPPORTS WEE OSCAR on 25TH MARCH 2016 1:28 PM
CFC supporters in Ireland is not a myth,
There are hundreds of CFC supporters clubs throughout Ireland,
Thousands travel every season from Ireland to watch Celtic play,
To say CFC supporters in Ireland is a myth,is a myth.
Hail Hail
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-2/#comment-2800538
Not in the republic, there are a few, I’m not saying there are none, I’m saying not as many as people think there are that’s all.
I’m not a racist.
After losing a pile of cash, I swore I’d never go back to The Curragh.
Does that make me anti Irish racist?
:)
Lighten up bhoys. Wur aw pals.
HH
BIg Peat
i wouldnt disagree with your first statement, i just cant believe in this day and age anyone would say they want to defer themselves to someone like that, someone who is no more deserving to be in that position than you or me
i wont even start on your second point
Tony, what you say i find great truth in, but why rain on their parade? For some it’s a rare indulgence to see the halcyon old country of their Darby O’Gill referenced memory. To be sure.
The green man
I’m sure you have a great time in what I’d call your world, can’t find the racist post, so make it up in your head what you spin it on, lol. Strange person, you should apply for a Celtic trust membership, that’s how they operate..
Hope all the guys heading over or already in Dublin have a great weekend. As Connaire12 said earlier, if you go to Kilmainham you WILL have a tear in your eye at the end. I’ve been on that tour about 4 times, I know it’s coming but just can’t help myself, every single time left with tears in my eyes. Pub across the street is a decent pick me up though…
True it’s good Friday peace and good thoughts to al.
Lurking Huns GIRFUYs.
In summary;
European Football, we want that to be run by meritocracy, which will give us access to the most amount of money.
Scottish Football, we want that to be run, not by meritocracy but by commercialism, which would signal the last pretence of meritocracy in Scottish Football, but would give us the most money.
Yes I’ve got it the sport is merely a cover for making money.
All and Al
THEGREENMAN@1:37 – My “game” is only to bring enlightenment to this forum and to allow others to feast on the fruit of my mind – so what is it for you sir – two pound of bananas?
Ha Ha..Charade you are.
In the current apparently febrile mood on the blog, I worried about posting this potentially explosive topic that could attracted opprobrium and insults….so I won’t…. Aye ah will :)
Sitting on Sharkey’s having my Fish on Friday (a tradition irrespective of the ‘goodness’ of the Friday I’m question,) I noticed a lad tucking in to this culinary delight first sprinkling his chips with salt, then a sprinkling of vinegar and finally a squeeze of lemon on his fish.
Obviously I sneered.
It has to be lemon first, vinegar and then salt. This ensures that the salt is not washed away, adheres to the fish and chips and signals you as a ‘cool, intelligent member of the cognoscenti’ as well as getting the eyes, brain and taste buds all anticipating the sensory delight in store.
Any other sequence is simply uncultured…and don’t get me started on bleeding salt’n’sauce pagan practice’s.
Hail hail
Matt
Mr Pastry
You bringing ‘enlightenment’
Now, that is funny.
The fruit of your mind…is rotten to the core.
Dont make me laugh.
Shakespeare…anybody else you would care to mention?
How about Vico…or Paracelsus.
Im all ears…amaze me with your deep understanding of human knowledge.
Im really impressed:)
Mr Pastry
No doubt The Donald or Alfie Noakes, or Thompson Twin, will be along shortly to back you up:)
HH
It looks like, sooner or later, the rich clubs may, more or less, put the Champions League out of our easy reach – we can protest, however these things have a powerful driving force (money), and like the formation of the all-conquering EPL, this proposal, a reduction to sixteen teams at group stage and four or five qualifying rounds, will probably come to fruition.
I suggest that we (Celtic) concentrate on becoming unbeatable domestically and see where that momentum takes us – it could propel us to bigger things.
The thought of CL disappointment early on, casting, like this year, a dark shadow over every season, is not for thinking about.
So we aim to be the top of the top dogs in Scotland and see what develops – like that old saying “look after the pennies and the pounds will look after tbemselves”
Good article, Paul.
Ironic that on the day a true visionary passes away, the modern-day so-called “visionaries” attempt to prevent clubs like the one he led to three consecutive European crowns from ever doing it again.