Random footie

[Durhamfootman]

England women -v- France women tonight on the red button

[dan08]

Johan Cruyff has passed away. Never saw him play but he's recognised as one of the greats. RIP.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Johan Cruyff has passed away. Never saw him play but he's recognised as one of the greats. RIP.

Probably the first international footballer that I remember as a true great of the game. The Cryff turn goes down in football history.

I also remember he smoked heavily while he was playing.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Adam Johnson getting sentenced today.

[Aidan11]

Johan Cruyff has passed away. Never saw him play but he's recognised as one of the greats. RIP.

Probably the first international footballer that I remember as a true great of the game. The Cryff turn goes down in football history.

I also remember he smoked heavily while he was playing.

Inventor of the Cruyff Turn. He was always puffing away in the dugout as a manager. Great player in his day.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Adam Johnson getting sentenced today.

Doesn't look good for him, judge really laying into Johnson.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Six years, flipping eck Gail.

[Gingerfinch]

rip Johan

Before my time but I have seen plenty of clips. Rated by many as one of the best ever. Bit of a character as well.

[sussexpob]

Scotland getting battered, no idea how they are winning

[Durhamfootman]

surprised to hear about Cruyff. I believe he did a lot of work campaigning against the 'bines once he'd stopped smoking himself

cracking player in a cracking team. Not sure how that team failed to win the WC, tbh.

[Durhamfootman]

Six years, flipping eck Gail.

how many will he do.... 2 perhaps... open prison?

[sussexpob]

Not sure how that team failed to win the WC, tbh.

I always find the Total Football romance with Holland misplaced. The Dutch always laud over how Ajax "murdered Catenaccio" in the early 1970's , a tactic that had lead to the Italian club domination of the 1960's, but the Italians got the last laugh when it turned out no deathblow had been issued, and Italy won the 1982 World Cup with a very similar "Zona Mista" system.

The truth is, on an international level, total football was never successful consistently enough because the idea of defensive shape disappeared against the very best international sides. That fluidity in the play lead to big problems against top quality sides. In fact, its often forgotten while Germany are often seen as undeserving winners in 1974, Holland shouldnt have even got to the tournament. They drew 0-0 with Belgium in the last game to qualify, but Belgium are supposed to have had the worst referring decision in history deny them beating Holland (replays suggest the striker was more than 3 yards onside).

And can you say this Holland team were better than W.Germany's? A team with Muller, Vogts, Beckenbauer at his peak? The Germany team that clinically punished them in the 1974 had one significant difference to the Dutch.... they could defend, the Dutch couldnt.... and when you think of Germany's defence, Beckenbauer/Vogts were excellent ball carrying attackers too. In fact, the former (Who's style lived on till 1990 when the legend Lothar Matthius adopted his legecy) really defined better then probably any defender in history how a centre back could also be a creative playmaking output for the team. Its arguable that the West German team of that year actually defined "Total Football" much more purely than the Dutch team.

I think Cryuff was finished by 1977, but the legacy of 1974 continued to 1978. The 1978 team could hardly complain about missing out on making history.... they lost to Scotland, drew with Peru, and were apparently blasted in the second round by an Italy team that was recognised before the tournament as being the worst Italian side ever..... Holland were lucky to get out the group on goal difference, and were lucky to scrape to the final. They got battered in that match.

Cryuff, in the famous "turn" vs Sweden, apparently spent the whole match trying to pull his move off and only completed the champagne move once.... they drew the game 0-0 despite being heavy favorites. It i also well noted that the Dutch team wanted to humiliate the German team in 1974 as revenge for the war and after scoring without Germany even touching the ball, they then decided to *modded* around and try to take the mick.....passing the ball, ole''ing, trying to nutmeg people and do all flashy *modded*....

They gifted Germany two goals believing they could turn it on and win with easy, then spent the second half trying desperately (and unsuccesfully) to get back into the game after Germany had punished them by taking both their chances.

They were cocky.... thats no legacy to be proud of.

[sussexpob]

That aside, Cryuffs influence on the modern game cannot be ignored or understated. His input into Ajax's success is largely the modern precursor for the dominance of Barcelona and Spain we have witnessed in the last decade on club and international level.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Six years, flipping eck Gail.

how many will he do.... 2 perhaps... open prison?

HMP Frankland apparently where a child rapist was murdered a few years ago. Going to need protection to survive.

[Gingerfinch]

Poor old Gazza.

http://dreamteamfc.uk/6186B9k5m