Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Resist or wither like Miss Havisham

Resist or wither like Miss Havisham

1974
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

1,974 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. ...
  14. 52

  1. Doc on

    AidenBhoy, sadly it seems so.

     

     

    I won’t abandon Celtic though.

     

    I won’t have a season ticket next season, but that is because I can’t get along to enough games for now.

     

    New job is taking up my time, travelling a lot.

     

    I will still be there when I can.

  2. Doc on

    Winning Captains,

     

     

    I am coming to the Tommy Gemmell evening, so prepare your ears for a battering:-)

     

     

    I got the Bismarck reference btw, holed below the waterline and all that.

  5. dessybhoy on

    The Bismarck had its rudder damaged by a torpedo therefore could not steer and moved in circles, was finished off by torpedoes.

  8. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    2nd rangers in administration before promotion is the only way I can see captain petes dream reunion being scuppered.

     

     

    Scabby scurvy bastards the lot of them.

  9. Celtic Mac on

    winning captains

     

     

    I always wondered why they never made ‘Sink the Bismark II’.

  13. leftclicktic on

    Got a wee call from a CQNr there when i was feelling a wee bit sorry for myself,fair cheered me up and got me on the go.

     

    More than a football blog.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  16. leftclicktic on

    Can somebody please post the youtube video of

     

    James Connollys last speech and the Irish citizens army song

     

     

    Its the 6:49 one

  18. Saint Stivs says SACK THE BOARD on

    The bismarck never sank.

     

    It’s used to this very day as a pleasure ferry around hamburg

  21. Jobo Baldie on

    Was out all day so had a decent scrool back there. Ah tell you, pages 5 to 7 were much more enjoyable than 1 to 3!

  26. Almore on

    Great atmosphere in the concourse of the Blatterdome. Amazing what defying the licensing laws can do.

  29. setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on

    WC

     

     

    “Spoiler alert for the movie THE Bismarck never did make it back to…. ”

     

     

    Was it not heading for one of the Atlantic seaports in their Occupied zone in France, maybe the great port of Brest.

     

     

    Coupled with praecepta’s reference to TITCO we could be on to something here.

  30. ....PFayr ..SACK THE BOARD on

    Res12 boys are being played by the cfc board

     

     

    There is no appetite to challenge the SFA even less to do anything that will prevent the ‘return off the famous old club to which our chairman oft refers

     

     

    Sickening ….

  31. the_huddle on

    Jobo Baldie on 25th March 2016 8:48 pm

     

     

    Was out all day so had a decent scrool back there. Ah tell you, pages 5 to 7 were much more enjoyable than 1 to 3!

     

    ———————-

     

    I’m sorry there has never been a greater post on here that Big Peat of Islay’s on page 1 :O)

  32. dessybhoy on

    Sipsini

     

    SevcoTirpitz Bismarck or whatever name they are using I hope they to never make it back, what does WC know?

  33. Aiden Bhoy on

    Doc,

     

     

    I won’t turn my back on Celtic either, but when honest mistakes are made and decisions are made to benefit one club we should hold our tongue.

     

     

    We had the chance to change it and our club and support said nothing.

  35. the_huddle on

    setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on 25th March 2016 8:51 pm

     

     

    “Spoiler alert for the movie THE Bismarck never did make it back to…. ”

     

     

    Was it not heading for one of the Atlantic seaports in their Occupied zone in France, maybe the great port of Brest.

     

    ——————–

     

    I think it was due to drop some holidaymakers off in Monaco when it was hit

  37. bhoy@58 on

    WC

     

    is the hint in “THE”bismark?

     

    are they going to be made to use their real name of “THE”rangers?

  40. Doc on

    AidenBhoy, I will shout high and loud, then as now, in my own little world where we only listen to each other.

     

     

    But the club? they can have nothing to say.

     

     

    Leftie, you’re welcome, found it in my favourites:-)

  42. clunks on

    Doc

     

     

    I know from first hand face to face experience that WC is a top ghuy and am sure he wont mind me affirming this,

     

     

    However, he has been implying of a smoking gun for a few years now to which you have also noticed and posted about!!

     

     

    I and all the Celtic blogoshpere wish to see the bullets etc etc!

     

     

    praecepta

     

     

    Indeed, we need to plant acorns and let them grow,

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. ...
  14. 52