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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This bit from Phil is interesting.
“I am of the opinion that it was a major victory that the board and the major shareholders at Celtic did not vote down the Resolution when it was put before the club’s AGM on November 15th, 2013.”
The thing is, a major victory for who?
On the day of the AGM when Res 12 was withdrawn, I met some guys from here after I’d finished work. The first one I spoke to was ACGR who told me what had taken place.
I replied with two words, “It’s f***ed!”
It was the best of times it was the worst of times…
DickensCSC
WITS
Cheers for Captain Joy at Lingfield a fiver at 12″s, hope all the Bhoys are having a ball in Dublin ! Darkey Kelly”s on Sunday for some tunes !! HH!!
test
Apparently the Celtic Superstore is to be renamed the ‘Olde Curiosity Shoppe’ when OF ‘normality’ resumes.
AidenBhoy, feels similar I agree.
HT, I lived in hope, what was it they say it is that kills you?
Winning Captain
You have mentioned the `same club` a few times. What point are you making?
JJ
HT
Will give you one word – Filibustering!
………. and time for a Rally!
Otis Redding These Arms Of Mine
https://youtu.be/aUaO50nWnvg
Hamiltontim
So basically what we have achieved in the death of the huns is we don’t mention the old firm in our website.
That is one big kick in the teeth to the 25-30k that has went faithfully for the last 4 years . I
Doc
As did I and the diligence and temerity of the Resolutioners has been incredible.
Despite that, I never, ever thought there was an ounce of will in the Celtic boardroom to follow this through.
Aiden Bhoy
A long way for a short cut. Keep the faith.
PRAECEPTA on 25TH MARCH 2016 7:53 PM
HT
Will give you one word – Filibustering!
………. and time for a Rally!
—–
You more than anyone on here will know when the time is right for that.
Winning Captains
You seem to be hinting at some form of resolution, or positive progress – from our perspective, that is – in the near (?) future with regards either SFA or Oldco/Sevco.
If that is the case:
1. Are you certain?
2. Is it a result of the efforts of:
A) shareholders/Res12 requisitioners
or
B) our Board
or
C) both working in harmony
or
D) the efforts of some other party
Or, are you not at liberty to respond to either question?
HH
BGFC
Winnings Captain
Hope you’re right mate.
Aidenbhoy
Celtic haven’t used the Old Firm label for a number of years. In the past few days they’ve referenced the semi final without mentioning ‘Rangers’. Yet on a separate page on the club website, the fixtures list has ‘Celtic v Rangers’.
They’re hope is that this will placate some of the support.
HT
Have already suggested as much to Auldheid.
Time to get the ‘message’ across to all the Celtic Dispora – it would be impossible for the MSM to ignore a large Public Rally in the likes of the City Halls!
Looks like the board feel that the OF is the way to increase our revenues. Going by the number of Rangers posts on here, i’d say they are right to expect more interest next season.
The Old Firm culture never left us.
Meanwhile, in Europe, we will struggle badly.
OK then! The cryptic clues are Bismark and Endgames. Time to apply some Ted Rogers 3:2:1 type thinking.
The Bismark was sunk thanks to Bletchley Park’s codebreaking on the Enigma Code. So it might be that we have inside info on the coded e-mail exchanges of 2012. However, this could be a red herring. The film starred Kenneth More who also played Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky so it could be an oblique reference to David Murray. But then, he also starred in The 39 Steps- how many steps are there leading up to the SFA offices in Hampden? Hmmm!
OK- we’re no further forward- let’s start from the Endgames clue! They were a Glasgow synth-rock type band- nothing happening there. Ah! but their band name sounds like the Samuel Beckett play End Game, wherein the main character Hamm (sounds like Lamb) behaves badly, in a manner seemingly guaranteed to ensure that no audience member would like him or care about what happened to him (that sounds like one of their songs). His parents both live in dustbins and he starves himself to death- Spooky or what? End Game is a reference from Chess indicating that you are in the “bound to lose” stage of the game. The characters in the play are named Hamm for Hammer, Clov for clou (the French for nail), Nagg for nagel (the German for nail), and Nell because of its resemblance to the death knell.
There you have it. The top minds of Bletchley Park have confirmed that they died and they are currently building their own coffin.
I’ve either won a family set of folding bicycles and matching ‘his and hers’ sheepskin coats or a metallic bin.
Over to you Winning Captains (aka Ted Rogers)
Praecepta
Not a bad idea that!
Meanwhile, in Europe, we will struggle badly.
Quelle Suprise!!!
Merde, we always struggle in Europe regardless of the domestic league.
AS for a protest at city halls, get 20k outside the SFA office (please dont tell me thy are next door to each other!)
and watch the pressure ramp up
WC…
I know Paul has to keep his cards close to his chest regarding res12 and you are giving us snippets not to think it’s just another cover up, some are becoming a bit disillusioned now.
Myself, I’ll wait and see if our board has a backbone, I’m a patient man.
More supporters know about res12 than some think, it’s been reverberating around all sites and to be honest, some good Celtic men (mostly older) are questioning our boards silence.
Even my had to explain it to my dad during the week…PL, beware what you sow…
Mr Lawwell is super hero with a Union Jack cape.
——————
http://johnjamessite.com/2016/03/25/peter-lawwell-inaction-man/
Rally…or Protest.
Whatever…but something needs done.
I will be there…SFA, City Halls.
Lets do it.
HH
HT, realism with optimism, I like that. Unfortunately the realism seems correct this time.
Winning Captains, we have heard the same thing for years, you’re a top fhella, but it’s the same record.
Trust us, this is going to be huge this time, defining moment.
Without a timeline, without any idea what is coming, without knowing who is involved, what they are doing.
We don’t even know the expected outcome!
Disband the SFA, reformation(they like that sort of thing around here seemingly)?
Title stripping? Justice?
I don’t see it mate, I just don’t see it.
SFTB
I’ve either won a family set of folding bicycles and matching ‘his and hers’ sheepskin coats or a metallic bin.
_______________
Quite possibly thanks to TITCo!
Rodney was involved in the final sinking of the Bismarck. :-)
praecepta…
You old fox ye, some of the pups could do with your help if said rally is to be organised, I for one would be there to support it.
I’m not sure if it would be allowed though, we can’t even have a celebration for St Patrick’s day.
bypass UEFA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIE2GAqnFGw
Like that post doc
especially
“Winning Captains, we have heard the same thing for years, you’re a top fhella, but it’s the same record”
It would look good on the news, the grey brigade getting kettled. ;)
Anyhoos, given we are on the cusp of an historic anniversary………….
Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMf6IyJI0e4
Doc
It ain’t going to happen any of it . Next August normal business will be resumed. The decision we have to make is turn our back on Celtic or watch the Scottish football equivalent of WWE. Dave King told us a few months back he’d be happy with Sevco having a 55-45 split of titles with Celtic. Watch this space seems Peter is happy with that also.
Winning Captains
Let me ask again.
What is meant by your references to `Same club`?
Clunks, I would emphasise WC is a top fhella, and will know something he believes will happen.
I’m just feeling really cynical regarding the whole affair, every aspect with only a couple of exceptions.
The Requisitioners efforts being first and foremost among those.
sipsini on 25th March 2016 8:14 pm
You old fox ye, some of the pups could do with your help if said rally is to be organised, I for one would be there to support it.
I’m not sure if it would be allowed though, we can’t even have a celebration for St Patrick’s day.
——————————-
I guess it’s all about perception, there was a letter in the Metro (I know I know) asking why does Scotland celebrate St Patricks day more than St Andrews day. Following day there was a letter responding that St Patrick was born in Scotland :O)
clunks
From ‘little acorns’…………………
Impossible to get a mass demonstration at the first time of asking – it needs clever building-up/manipulation in order to get maximum effect.
Trust me!
SIPSINI on 25TH MARCH 2016 8:18 PM
It would look good on the news, the grey brigade getting kettled. ;)
The young brigade would have to show them how to film the polis on their phones-:))
Doc
Oh I hear you. If you’re coming to the Tommy Gemmell dinner you can twist a few arms. There are quite a few Lions going though so be careful!
Bhoys Own you say it best when you say nothing at all.
Spoiler alert for the movie THE Bismarck never did make it back to….