Football

2 photos. Classic Cruyff; classical poise.

If memory serves, the b/w shot is from a famous semi-final play-off game versus Benfica. Cruyff ran riot, taking Ajax into the final and football in The Netherlands was never the same again.

2 Attachments

I like when you make it cryptic.

Oh, and a picture of the legend

Netherlands vs France tomorrow will stop in memoriam during the 14th minute.

I hope it's not a silent tribute, he was far too outspoken for that. Couldn't think of a worse thing to happen than having 45,000 people sit in silence to celebrate his life.

+1
would be great if the organisers could screen one minute of Cruyff magic within the stadium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdW5m3x0sRU

Would be great if they could provide a live feed of corndog describing his Cruyff turn and his busted knee.

Despite having had knee surgery, I actually laughed out loud at this comment.

My 10 yr old likes to beat me with his Cruyff turns. (and mostly does). That's a fucking legacy right there.

“For opponents, playing against him was like trying to pin down air”

via GIPHY

I give up, can't get the gif to embed.

Nice ode to the Dutch master by the presidents of Barcelona:
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/detail/article/letter-from-the-presidents-of-fc-barcelona-to-johan-cruyff

It's the time of year where I start making arrangements for my two spare arsenal season tickets.

Tickets include all home league games, the first seven FA Cup and Champions League games, option to buy league cup tickets for £10 each and option to buy any extra FA/CL tickets beyond the first 7 that are included.

Seats are next to each other in the upper tier in northbank. £2,500 for the pair which is face value. PM if interested.

^ already sorted with membership to my local library (and it's free!)

David Winner, author of the best book on Dutch Football, Brilliant Orange, on Cruyff and his influence;

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/25/johan-cruyff-father-modern-game-dutch

Came here to post that. Another excellent piece.

The Sid Lowe piece is good too.

Has anyone been as influential in football as Cruyff? One of the best players and best coaches ever. I can't think of any truly great player who has been as successful as a coach, never mind as widely influential.

There's a line a read in one of the guardian bits.

It's about being Dutch and into sport, and something I've seen in an ex colleague who played hockey. Cruyff's playing career finished and then the next day he was out teaching the kids.

None whatsoever in my book. Rijkaard and Guardiola perhaps but they "merely" improved a template.

Not sure how club football is organised in England, in the Netherlands from the age of 13 onwards you have to either coach or referee football matches of you want to play. Same goes for all other sports tbh.

Coach? In England???

Lads, come here we've got a comedian!

(I joke)

Bullshit on the cruyff turn dislocation, or the I would still be playing?

Just read the Sid Lowe piece, I did not know that Ajax had sold him to Real Madrid and he just refused to go and went to barca instead.
Thinking about it gets you into a @Chalfie alternative universe with real madrid doing the youth thing and Barcelona slipping into obscurity.

Hard to overestimate how big an influence on modern football he was. And it's such an eye opener reading about his life and achievements..

And for me nothing?