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.
1,974 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- ...
- 52
- »
Mags…… In the lyrics of KWS
Please don’t go…………..
In the interest of balance here is a report on the basis DK was passed FPP. Note the Board members.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/dave-king-granted-fit-and-proper-status-by-sfa-1-3777322
So what if Peter Lawell voted Dave King as fit and proper.
If I was faced with supporting the financially hampered King to take over Rangers or the multimillionaire Ashley.
I would have put up no opposition to supporting King.
Some of you just want to gripe ,without seeing the bigger picture.
TT
A genuine multi billionaire .
TT
Gerry
I would rather see our clab stand up and fight the corruption. .. even if it meant getting thrown out the league and cup .
I was always proud that I supported a club who stood for good over evil and not afraid to show it.
I’m afraid I’ve lost that loving feeling
MARGARET MCGILL on 28TH MARCH 2016 4:57 PM
Quonno
Yes Margaret all good reasons not to vote for King.
However, someone did.
TinyTim
Very pertinent, as usual.
But does it do damage to the reputation of PL?
Auldheid on 28th March 2016 5:02 pm
“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? –
Isnt that the point of res 12?
Or are you saying wait until UEFA respond then pistol pete will kick in coz we got “our” man in the inside?? :)
It just gets better.
Tbj…
Do you remember Brendan turning up at a nightshift when he was day shift?
All the characters are gone now, no banter.
Yep, lost track this weekend. Dad away in Fife at my brothers, the oars are out the boat. :)
TINYTIM on 28TH MARCH 2016 5:05 PM
So what if Peter Lawell voted Dave King as fit and proper.
If I was faced with supporting the financially hampered King to take over Rangers or the multimillionaire Ashley.
I would have put up no opposition to supporting King.
Some of you just want to gripe ,without seeing the bigger picture.
So King was just a big tollie but Ashley was an enormous shit.
So lets conscious free support the big tollie.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-42/#comment-2802083
TBJ HAS NO TRUST IN THE PLC on 28TH MARCH 2016 5:07 PM
Gerry
I would rather see our clab stand up and fight the corruption. .. even if it meant getting thrown out the league and cup .
I was always proud that I supported a club who stood for good over evil and not afraid to show it.
I’m afraid I’ve lost that loving feeling
I have as much chance of winning the Euro Lottery than Celtic have of being thrown out the league or cup.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-42/#comment-2802087
Auldheid on 28th March 2016 5:04 pm
Yes. Apologies. PL was 1 of 8 voters not 5.
Was it unanimous? Curious minds would like to know.
MARGARET MCGILL on 28TH MARCH 2016 5:14 PM
Auldheid on 28th March 2016 5:04 pm
Yes. Apologies. PL was 1 of 8 voters not 5.
Was it unanimous? Curious minds would like to know.
Agreed. But who is going to tell?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/resist-of-wither-like-miss-havisham/comment-page-42/#comment-2802089
This wont end well.
A PLC who do not communicate with the supporters, leave themselves wide open to rumour.
Silence isnt helping the credibility of the the board one bit.
We are being taken for fools.
Surely the PLC dont expect to get away with ignoring the cheating…They quite obviously wont.
Check out the general attitude to hun cheating online…on all Celtic blogs.
It cant go on.
HH
quonno on 28th March 2016 5:16 pm
I think Paul67 could elucidate and nip this possible lazy journalism in the bud.
TIny Tim…
So you would condone the cheating?
Gently, gently they will get the worm. Ashley had no intention of taking over the huns, it was a moneybag for him.
As for King, it’s a pension that the coffers will be filled by the the sfa, whilst every other team will forfeit… As in the past.
See Lennon has been opening his trap, talking about the Semi final against Sevco why don’t you just shut up, wait till we have played Sevco then say what you have to say no wonder a lot of supporters don’t like him and I’m not talking about Sevco supporters either
I am amazed at the amount of angst generated by supposition, malevolent speculation and unfounded rumours from a Sevco blog and posters with personal grudges against a board member.
There is no foundation to the speculative article from JJ, yet because it fits into their particular agenda it is pushed aggressively and tiresomely by posters.
After a decade of the blog, we should all know better.
Don’t give them oxygen.
Peter Lawwell will be forever remembered to Celtic to what SDM was to Rangers a lowlife that would sell his own granny for money.
Enjoy the blue pound from a cheating rancid club pistol Pete and enjoy your cost dinners with the corrupt cabal.
Remember fans said it was a good thing Peter joining the SFA board ?
Who’s laughing now ?
Tiny Tim at 5.05,
From a pub somewhere in Dublin, BURP, …. precisely.
MATTSTEWARTCSC
Cost = cosy
Margaret McGill….
The CQN massive were willing to put Money to CQN.
Nope – Not right.
I didn’t understand that.
There are Computer noobs out there that have no idea how to block the obtrusive ads.
I’m so Sorry
‘GG on 28th March 2016 5:28 pm
Thats true but it can be nipped in the bud now? right?
Or is it one of these “Doesnt even warrant a response routines”?
Cheating….Boooooooo
Thats not football….its Wrestling.
Anything goes….as long as the huns can cheat.
Revolting
Boooooooooooo
petec on 28th March 2016 5:32 pm
I think its just lazy advertising. In my own experience its harder to follow wordpress.org hosted web sites on a smartphone than a pc because of the collective advertising that they provider kicks in.
Timbhoy3
Heres the CQN take, and a copy of what NFL said – can you elucidate where he went wrong?
NEIL LENNON has warned Sevco boss Mark Warburton he is heading for a Hampden meltdown in next month’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash against Celtic.
The former Hoops gaffer reckons the occasion will be too much for the Englishman who has never come up against the Parkhead side in his career and now faces a baptism of fire.
Lennon said: “Nothing will prepare Warburton for his first taste of the Old Firm (sic) as a manager. Ronny Deila won the League Cup semi-final last year and I just think Celtic will be too strong for them on the day.
“I just think that with the big-game experience Celtic have, they will win.
“I’m not sure Warburton’s Rangers (sic) side will have come up against as good a team as Celtic yet.
“There is a gap between the two sides. It may not be as big as it was when the two clubs met last season, but it is still there.
“There seems to be a lot of confidence about Rangers (sic) going into this game and a lot of negativity regarding Celtic.
“Having said that, Celtic are the champions and they are still going for the Double.
“There is a lack of experience in the Rangers (sic) side and there is also a lack of physicality. Celtic will be too strong for them in the end.”
The Hoops sauntered to a 2-0 win at Hampden last season on their way to beating Dundee United 2-0 in the final to lift the silverware.
An early header from Leigh Griffiths had their opponents on the ropes and Kris Commons walloped in a spectacular second before the interval.
JustAsking CSC
FFS if i had wanted to see THE UNDERTAKER i would have tuned into Wrestlemania 32.
Scoddish Fitba….is like something oot a Oor Wullie annual.
Fecking Medieval
Shortbread and Black Bun….an Cheating.
HH
Auldheid on 28th March 2016 4:38 pm
Last week here, CQN, MARCH 2016 10:32 AM, following the news that the PLC had refused to engage with UEFA, I posted here that the four requisitioners yourself (Auldheid), Canamalar, BRTH and Morrisey were either incredibly naive or were in cahoots with the PLC. I have now come to the conclusion in the light of the latest shareholders/PLC alliance that you are in fact pursuing the agenda of Peter Lawwell. Irrespective of whether or not you will ultimately be successful is beside the point. It was not the purpose of Resolution 12.
When the idea of a resolution to be debated at the AGM about SFA misgovernance was first mooted, and one hundred shareholders’ signatures were needed, I couldn’t offer mine quickly enough. At long last I thought; a way of playing a small part in getting around the PLC’s intransigence and its indifferent dismissal of the fans. Morrisey’s difficult treatment at the hands of the Celtic security staff at the outset of the process was just one sign of the Board’s hostility towards any supporters’ action against the SFA.
While I engaged in the process with Canamalar, proving shareholder credentials and adding my signature, I urged him to take care that this promising initiative was not undermined. I also warned him that you, Auldheid, as one of the four resolution’s principals was already compromised in that, as was evident in all of your postings, until then (and since), never missed an opportunity to support Peter Lawwell pursue the Board’s strategy, and you worked assiduously to get the message across. The question I had then, and still remains; on who’s behalf was/is all your energy expended?
Canamalar, in fairness to him, assured me that your possibly compromised position wouldn’t have any negative bearing on the progress of Resolution 12.
Then came the day of the AGM and the news that an adjournment had been agreed between the requisitioners and the PLC on the basis that it would be in both parties’ best interests to work together. What a result for the PLC! In one fell swoop it had avoided the certain opprobrium from the supporters of the resolution had it voted it down, while, at the same time, positioning the ‘dissident 4’ inside the tent flap to ‘face’ outwards.
I immediately made it clear to Canamalar that I wanted no further part. As far as I was concerned Resolution 12 had no longer any status. Such has been the prevarication since from the PLC and you its allies we now have the bizarre situation where the shareholders involved in the recently drawn-up petition initiative are doing so on behalf of the PLC.
Auldheid, your influential posts both on here and on TSFM have helped provide an effective screen behind which the Board, through Peter Lawwell can pursue a separate agenda. The treatment of the present petition’s signatories by PL and his allies, such as yourself, is every bit as as reprehensible as that meted out to the 100 signatories of Resolution 12.
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 28th March 2016 5:47 pm
I couldnt agree more! :)
Sips
I used to give Brendan a lift from his house opposite Harveys on glasgow rd
One Sunday summer morning when I got him he told me he had went out boozing on the Saturday at noon and came home bevvied about 5. Fell asleep on the sofa and woke at 7 and thinking he had slept all night went down to the street at 7:20 expecting me to puck him up
As he stood there in the ( morning ) sunshine he noticed more cars than normal for a Sunday morning and more people walking along the rd too .
As he stood there Thinking ” it’s no like TBJ to be late ” his nemesis from upstairs walked out the close .
” where you off to ” asks the chink
” work ” says the bold brendan
” didn’t think you worked Saturday night shift ” says his neebur.
I nearly crashed the jalopy as he told me ….
Mags
In a vote of 8 what would be unanimous ? 7 ?
5 makes it a winner
So many of us wondering what is going on. What is preventing Celtic from clarifying the questions that we have ? Why would Celtic flirt with the possibility of cancellations of SBs, Celtic Shop paraphernalia, CelticTV subscriptions etc etc to a worrying degree ? Doesn’t make sense to me. Celtic should simply put the concerns of their customers on EUFAs desk (in a public manner) then step back, exhale and let the chips fall where they may. We are not in the business of suggesting how either EUFA or SFA should respond but Celtic should be in the business of responding to the valid questions of their customers in an appropriate and substantive manner. Although perhaps not deliberately, they are severely testing the patience of their customers. If Celtic maintain this circling of the wagons routine and sticking it out until “the big game” they may be in for the shock of their financial careers.
I would rather be up against a newco ,titles stripped with Ashley in charge, than glibby and his level 5 crap we have to suffer . Throw in a revamped SFA with proper referees and I’m sure we would relish the challenge and prosper.
Gerryfaethebrig on 28th March 2016 5:57 pm
Does it matter? We know King was a winner here but what happened to the “Never Interfere With an Enemy While He’s in the Process of Destroying Himself” mantra? Did he contribute to their demise in his mind by voting King fit and proper or was he hedging Old Firm bets? I think we should be told. Clarification is definitely required here. The rumours can stop today.
PL is on the SFA for one purpose to do DD’s bidding.
I generally disagree with The Green Man but he hit it right on the head.
The PLC are part of the problem
Tell you what…I wouldnt like to go down in history as the man who allowed the huns to cheat Celtic.
This PLC will be hated if they do not respond to this.
There will be uproar.
Its not acceptable in any way.
Shame on those prepared to look the other way.
HH
KILL ULTRA on 28TH MARCH 2016 5:50 PM
A very, very interesting post.
‘GG on 28th March 2016 5:28 pm
I concur