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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Donald Trumpet telling his fellow Yanks not to travel to the UK or Europe, as it is no longer safe to do so.
That, obviously, includes the Turnberry hotel and golf courses which he owns.
Probably less chance of being blown up somewhere in Europe than there is of being gunned down by some gun nut in the good old USA.
Cheerio for now!
HH!!
£7 delivery and £1.50 internet fee(wtf),how a £28 ticket costs £36.50
Tally bhoy
I’m sure many of us in Scotland are happy to hear the fandan telling his fellow trumpets not to travel to the UK
C’mon Ronny Deeeeeee.
Get the guy that can put that incisive forward pass into the Team.
Win it in Style.
Just got a text from a mate which says
lad we know rides out for Elliott,KIller Crow and Bless the Wings expected to go well in the National,also thinks General Principle and Taglietelle will go well.
General Principle runs in the 3.15 and Taglietell runs in the 4.20 the other 2 in the National at 5
Thats me finished with horses for the day.
Too much info at times
Petec
Scott Allan ?
Ronny give the Bhoy a run
WITS
Already on “Bless The Wings” 16s into 12s so far
Whats the frequency Kenneth?
Just on and noticed Rudi jumped into the CQN Mag bashing last night.
This is the guy who said he heard John Hartson slag our manager at a Celtic supporters event in the Midlands.
I asked him for more details re the event and I would raise the matter with Celtic and John Hartson. Not surprisingly he disappeared. Fifth Columnist.
He used to be called Ryecatcher and is in my view no supporter of Celtic. Glad he took the other side in last night’s debate.
WITS-Ta
Gerryfaethebrig on 28th March 2016 1:33 pm
Petec
Scott Allan ?
Ronny give the Bhoy a run
……………………………………………………..
When the Olde Fella complains after a victory, especially with that Wonder goal by Tom, I know things need to change – in the Middle of the Park.
Yup Scott should be given the chance.
Kieran, IMO, is the first of many.
Winning Captain.
I’m afraid you faced the dilemma of all “doers” last night.
People who lead, try and do etc, inevitably set themselves up to be criticised. In my experience it often comes from the most surprising or skewed interpretation too.
Of course your efforts and achievements will be taken for granted too and just be expected. That’s a given.
Good luck and more power to your efforts. Try and not let them put you off.
Hail Hail.
WC
I hope my comment re the Efe article is not included in that, no bashing of anything Cqn from me, I appreciate all of the hard work that goes on behind the blog, you all do well but surely if an article that doesn’t sit well should be allowed to be criticised
There’s only one Efe Ambrose……..some might say…..thank goodness for that….not me, like Cqn Efe does more good than bad
TRICOLOURED RIBBON on 28TH MARCH 2016 10:02 AM
However,was I glad I ventured out last night.To be in the company of lads from Plains.
True gentlemen.An absolute credit and Derry loves you all
———
When you and the dog get back in…what Plains men were you with?
I’m born and bred in the village, and just moved back after my mum passed away last year.
Other than one or two bad ones, which you get everywhere, Plains is fantastic – lovely warm and genuine people.
HH
BGFC
Apologies – this has probably been asked a zillion times. But i have to ask again. Is there an email address that can be used to reach Peter Lawwell? e.g. probably through the Club Secretary (marked as for the personal attention of Mr Peter Lawwell) or similar? I know of JP’s email jptaylor@celticfc.co.uk but was wondering if there is something more direct for the high heid yin?
Thanks, I will check back later.
My opinions will change constantly. Wan Truth that really matters.
He Rose again.
Petec
Are you talking about the devil ? Some say he rose again and joined the British army !
I agree with you with Kieran, thy Bhoy loves a slide tackle,I also think Ronny has ,an aged him well, you won’t hear many saying that in public
WITS.
Cheers.A couple of bob on each .
Watching the West Ham v Alstom game…Di Canio wouldn’t look out of place in our team just now.
When the ball is on the ground and Andy Thom is not around its Di Canio…
What a team we had back then, only to be cheated by a bloke hiding up with Lord Lucan and Shergar!
Gerryfaethebrig,
Didier Agathe was the best ever whilst @ Celtic.
This Club is Oh So SPECIAL.
I’ve never wanted a Manager to succeed as much as I want Ronny.
And not because of WITS great Rudi Vata.
There is a new found hero of mine in my work.
He might be right wingist in his outlook. He couldn’t be more friendly to the Romanian that asked for assistance in work – David even done the job for him.
Gerryfaethebrig….
Dinnae be worrying about those Rosicrucians.
Jesus, he, God, entered his Creation. To take EVERYTHING away, Every Sin.
C’mon Ronny D
sipsini,
If only we had Henke and the Maestro in the Same Team. ;)))
The Crew coming through.
Yes.
I still can’t make my mind up on jj…a hun at the wind up or a Tim taking the p**s…
When Stewart Regan appeared at Potter Row at the request of Professor Jarvie, he was not anticipating any difficult questions. When he encountered a question on the incompetence of the SFA, he referred to a phenomenon that he classified as a West of Scotland malaise. This situation has been exacerbated by the SFA’s response to systemic cheating by a member club. Despite claims to the contrary, I have always been a Rangers supporter and until relatively recently a shareholder with 20,000 ordinary shares. I sold all but one of these shares when a career criminal engaged in a hostile takeover of the board. My position is that Rangers are a new club as I have more than a passing acquaintance with Scots Law and The Companies Act of 2006.
They are the spiritual successor of the old club that is currently being liquidated. My position is an informed, well-researched response to the events of 2012. I do not envisage any title-stripping nor do I advocate that this is pursued. However it has been established that David Murray’s board, which included Dave King and Paul Murray, engaged in systemic tax evasion for a period of twelve years. Should there be redress for this systemic tax evasion? Absolutely. Will there be? Absolutely not.
The matter is far too complex for the average supporter. I have tried to break it down in articles of no more than 1,500 words as I note that when I exceed this amount individuals tend to switch off; or find it too difficult to scroll down to the often more interesting comments. Have a look at the guest article by Finloch at The Scottish Football Monitor. I have read this interesting article. However having done so once, I suggest you later attempt to access the comments, scrolling down through thousands of words rendering them inaccessible to all but the most committed who wish to see their comment in print. I encourage comments on this site. I have a couple of simple rules. If you wish to engage in comments in a quasi-language that you might use for brevity in a text, I will not approve anything with ‘u’ where ‘you’ is required. I will permit colloquial Scots occasionally, but if you revert to ‘whit’ in preference to what, if it’s not a quote from Burns, Scott or some other literary luminary, then I may decide not to approve it. I will not tolerate ad hominem comments. I allow CFC supporters to comment, but I draw the line on those who wish to celebrate their history or use ‘bhoy’ in their title. I would prefer that those of a CFC persuasion don’t advertise the fact. I can assure that it does not add gravitas to their comments. I extend a warm welcome to supporters of other clubs and those expats who can no longer stomach the invented nonsense at The Sunday Radar.
However I digress. The antipathy of supporters apropos Rangers’ renaissance is not confined to the West of Scotland. A company is being liquidated. This company’s titles have been conferred to a new company. From a common sense perspective this should not occur. However it has occurred and this grates on supporters whose clubs paid their taxes and managed their debts. The Scottish football authorities arrived at the conclusion that fifteen titles were unsound. They advocated that these titles were withdrawn. They were prepared to confer 99 of them. However they chose to confer all of them to a new company. They transferred the licence of the old company to a new company. Neil Doncaster, the CEO of the SPFL, went out of his way to state that Rangers is the same club/company that was formed in 1872. This statement has no merit whatsoever in regard to the laws of the land. One could posit that Mr Doncaster’s misrepresentation of the facts of the matter is an act of fraud. Fraud is defined as gaining a pecuniary advantage through deception. If Mr. Doncaster exacts a higher price from broadcasters on the basis of promoting a club/company formed in 1872, incorporated as a company in 1899, he is perpetrating a fraud.
This fraud is exacerbated by the fact that during 1989-2011, which is part of his timeline, systemic tax evasion and UEFA participation was approved when a £2.8m tax bill was outstanding.
I personally would prefer to leave this all behind. We start anew from 2012 onwards and we accept that although we look back fondly at the old club, we can do things better this time. I would prefer that the sectarian singing stopped. If I won a nine figure sum on a lottery, I would buy a controlling interest in Rangers. If I heard The Billy Boys being sung in any stand, I would withdraw access to this stand for the next home game. If it persisted I would close these stands for the season. My new Rangers would leave the bad history behind.
My Rangers would not sell season tickets to supporters in Ireland. I don’t want their politics anywhere near a football club. Mr Rangers would support our armed forces by paying our taxes. My Rangers would wear poppies to venerate the fallen in all conflicts where our ancestors have given their lives in service of their country. Those who wish to make a statement about army abuses in Northern Ireland can take their support elsewhere. When I wear my poppy I think of The Devil’s Pass in Myanmar (Burma) where I have laid a wreath in memory of the fallen.
I emphasised paying taxes. If we were to choose to draw a line in the sand in 2012, as I have, why would we choose a chairman with forty-one convictions for tax evasion? It is an outrageous decision by unconscionable shareholders. Why would we choose a regime that agitated for change so aggressively that female stewards had their teeth punched out in their name? Why are we naming our youth academy after an organisation that has a convicted drug dealer at its helm? Why are we putting our faith in a regime that having driven the share priced down to 18p, took control and subsequently de-listed it? Having decimated the value of Rangers, this board stand in front of our shareholders at an AGM and receive a standing ovation. You could not make it up. It truly is a metaphysical universe.
When we revert to reality, a question will be asked on the 28th April on how seven individuals, and one non-voting guest, arrived at the conclusion that a career criminal Dave King, with forty-one convictions for tax evasion and one for contempt of court, was fit and proper to be approved as a director of Rangers. As Graham Spiers succinctly stated, he failed the articles of association so comprehensively that, even allowing for the discretion of the makeshift panel, he could not possibly be approved. The SFA panel were willing to ignore any semblance of governance in the hope that King would give them the vital, competitive Rangers of their dreams. They did not care where he found the money. They did not care if it was the proceeds of tax evasion or money-laundering. They wanted King and his perceived wealth in Scottish football. This was a unanimous decision, and despite what CFC fans like to tell themselves (they can also be deluded) No Pistol Pete Lawwell also approved of King.
The decision of the three Lords Ordinary to uphold the fine of £250,000 and costs is an indictment of Dave King and Paul Murray. They both served on a board that approved side-letters and illegal registrations. Will they both be banned from Scottish football for this malfeasance? Will the fine imposed by the SFA of £160,000m plus interest in 2012, which was upheld in an appeal, finally fall due to Rangers?
When looking at the facts, the governing bodies have played so fast and loose with their articles of association, to expedite the return of Rangers to the top tier, that the only conclusion that we can arrive at is that they are corrupt. I we start from this premise we should ask how far are they prepared to go to further their ambitions for Rangers? As we have seen they are prepared to allow participation in UEFA tournaments when Rangers should have been disqualified by dint of an overdue tax payable. Are they now prepared to ensure that Rangers win the Scottish Cup this season and qualify for UEFA tournaments next season? Three home ties were no coincidence. As we saw with our own eyes in May of last year, ICT were allowed to cheat their way to UEFA participation by officials who would have been imprisoned in other football jurisdictions.
Once you start perverting the rules of the game, where do you stop? Is there honour among thieves?
Ps… Paul have a read.
WC,
I am one of those in the pro-Efe brigade but I most certainly not in the anti-WC shower. Thanks for all you do for CQN and Celtic in general.
Alstom? don’t know where that came from…all stars.
A specialist
Efe & WeeFRA.CSC
Heroes.
Are both Scottish cup semi’s the same ticket price?
Both feature Premier teams against lower league opposition but the only ticket price I’ve seen advertised is for the Sunday game.
Petec
Am with you !
I will celebrate Ronnys 2nd title like no other
Sipsini
I loved Di Canio (the footballer) watched him with Milan and nearly every other Italian team on loan on the Gazzetta C4 programme, The late great Tommy Burns roomed him with Peter Grant….. good management
SIPSINI@3.12
Dont know who or what that dude JJ is.
But he is telling it like it is.
Pulling no punches.
The mind boggles at the stupidity of PL
Is he truly insane?
Im starting to wonder.
HH
Gerryfaethebrig,
Total Belief can indeedi indeedi doo da….
The Shameful
Never forget that Satan is the fly guy in the Air.
Ephesians 2
The Mark has to be taken willingly.
Oh dear.
Good article from John James today, but in this blog he states that our CEO Peter Lawell voted with Regan, Doncaster and Ogilvie to pass Dave King as fit and proper.
Can anyone on here confirm this ?
If this is true the game is up, our club will continue with the embarrassing silence with regard to the cheating and corruption in our game.
The cheating must be addressed.
http://johnjamessite.com/2016/03/28/a-west-of-scotland-malaise/
Petec
Move any Mountain !
I grew up going too the Metro in Saltcoats on a Saturday night fae Coatbrig then “stayed” in Stevenston for a year or two trust me mountains are easily moved
Muse
Gerryfaethebrig…
That in my time, was the best Celtic team to watch, believe it ornot I was too young to appreciate the lions at the time.
TGM…
I’ve read some of your posts when I can get on here, like myself you are bewildered by the inaction of our board re the huns and our demise on the park.
The bloke jj has been verified by mc murdo as being one of them, hun sites have called him out as a Tim, I’m none the wiser…his site is johnjames. HH
Gerryfaethebrig on 28th March 2016 3:39 pm
Petec
Move any Mountain !
I grew up going too the Metro in Saltcoats on a Saturday night fae Coatbrig then “stayed” in Stevenston for a year or two trust me mountains are easily moved
………………………………………………………………………………..
Went there for 2 years solid. I lost my first Love because of that.
A high price to pay.
The Maestro – King and the most humblest. It will take someone really special to take that away from me, although I’d Love it to happen.
JoeDeacon&Billy Reid couldnae DJ at all…. But they played what the crowd wanted to hear. It was mad the night Dave Angel played there. The crowd had no idea. I was going Tonto / Radio Rental.
TCR and BGFC
That makes at least 3 of us from the Little Green Oasis by the Moss.
I’m an LD man originally.
Parents and grand parents all lived and died in Plains.
Still have a brother and sister staying there.