Johan Cruyff RIP

[The Red Baron]

One of my boyhood heroes gone. Far too early.

2016 has been a bad year for famous people.

RIP Johan!

[wing commander]

   What a player..i shudder to think how much he would be worth in todays market...sad news

[Lincoln Rover]

Speaks volumes that years later, players try to emulate some of his moves.
Top top player. RIP.

[Arksey rover]

One of the all time greats. Used to watch him in awe when I were a young kid. Up there with George best. RIP Johan Cruyf.

[bobjimwilly]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srx8rZc1jcs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srx8rZc1jcs</a>

[GM-MarkB]

I was only 8, but i'll never forget how that Dutch team he played in systematically destroyed Brazil in a monsoon at the '74 World Cup.

What a player he was

R.I.P

[Filo]

RIP Johan, that dutch side with the likes of Cruyff, Neeskens, Rep and Rensebrink was as good as any Football the Barcelona team these days plays, the original Total Football tean

[GM-MarkB]

You don't need to speak the lingo to appreciate this.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwaxRjMCQ8k

[newyankee]

 The word legend is used too much these days but this man was a true legend. R.I.P. Johan.

[River Don]

When England go out of an international competition, as they do, then I always follow the Netherlands.

The Netherlands to me represent an ideal football and one of the main reasons for that is the influence Johan Cruyff had on their game.

Gone too soon.

[PDX_Rover]

I was too young to remember the World Cup in 1974 but certainly grew up with an appreciation of Cruyff. The 1978 team were pretty good too. Truly a legend up there with Pele, Moore, the Kaiser and Peter Heritage.

I also went to university in Groningen and have a lot of Dutch mates still so they are like my second team really..

[NickDRFC]

When England go out of an international competition, as they do, then I always follow the Netherlands.

The Netherlands to me represent an ideal football and one of the main reasons for that is the influence Johan Cruyff had on their game.

Gone too soon.

Who are you supporting this time round then?!

[River Don]

When England go out of an international competition, as they do, then I always follow the Netherlands.

The Netherlands to me represent an ideal football and one of the main reasons for that is the influence Johan Cruyff had on their game.

Gone too soon.

Who are you supporting this time round then?!

England

[bobbymax]

Fantastic footballer and, by all accounts, a nice man too. RIP

[Lesonthewest]

What a player, RIP. Back then wherever you went be it for a kick about in the street or five a side on the playing field, everybody wanted to be Cruyff, or even a Jonny Rep or Neeskins. He was a true legend in a fantastic team.

[i_ateallthepies]

The rare combination of a man with extraordinary talent matched by his gentle humility.  R.I.P. Johan Cruyff.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yes indeed RIP. Football was changing in those years in the early 70s. The South Americans had the skill and the Europeans had the organisation and workrate.. Until the Dutch team came along and broke that trend with Cruyff at the forefront.

They could also splatter the ball in from ridiculously long distance. Ari Haan was it? Look at the pillock shooting from there. ...Jesus, what a goal!

[BillyStubbsTears]

I was only 8, but i'll never forget how that Dutch team he played in systematically destroyed Brazil in a monsoon at the '74 World Cup.

What a player he was

R.I.P

Me too. I was 7 but I was rapt watching Holland and Cruyff. It was such a beautiful, cavalier approach to the game.

Look at the move from kick off to penalty in the first minute of the final. Look how deep Cruyff comes. He was a striker/attacking midfielder, but he came back to the centre half to pick up the ball. And then the centre half went tear-arsing off up front. Mad but spellbinding to watch.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MEnF1HsD5tM

And yes I know it was a snail's pace compared to today's football. But it was the very best there had ever been up to that point. Brazil in 1970 had been amazing. Holland in 74 were from another planet.

Cruyff himself said that they went out wanting to humiliate Germany. The War was still a fresh memory and they wanted to destroy the Germans on their own patch. So, after that penalty, they toyed with the Germans. But they forgot to score again. And then the German machine ground them down.

So very Dutch. Flamboyant, brilliant and utterly indisciplined!

[Donnywolf]

Watched the 74 Final on my first Holiday abroad - in Callela (Spain)

It was not like these days and nearly all the Hotel guests went to the Dining Room as big as a Gym with a Telly at one end where we divided on "tribal lines" with the English and Dutch on one side and the West Germans on the other !

Jack Taylor (Wolvehampton) gave the Penalty for a foul on Johan Cruyff wihin the first minute which was duly put away and the noise was unbelievable ... unfortunately it did not last !

[IDM]

I was too young for the 74 WC live, but recall the Dutch of 78 very well. 

[GM-MarkB]

That 74 team was playing Total Football before Total Football was invented

[red w(h)ine]

I've been watching clips of Cruyff jumping over tackles INSIDE the penalty area. How times change.
RIP John Cruyff.

[Drover]

I grew up pretending to be Zico shooting at goal and doing the Cruyff turn on our front garden with the local lads,I did it so often I got pretty good at it.My friends could'nt do it right and were pretty impressed with me.74 and 78 was my introduction to Footy.The Argy ticker tape also made a big impression on me.Loved it.

[Sammy Chung was King]

The Cruyff turn was my favourite skill, used it a lot when i was playing, so simple but effective. He was way before my time so i probably don't know as much as some of you. I knew him as a manager, very opinionated, knew exactly what he wanted to see on the pitch, if they didn't deliver they were out!.
His lad wasn't a patch on him, but he was a decent player at united, he had a look of him, but wasn't in the same class, not many were.

[bobjimwilly]

I don't think I've ever seen an actual football match stopped before so both teams, as well as the supporters and officials, can give a minutes applause! Shows what he means to Dutch fans.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/462/netherlands/2016/03/24/21670622/feyenoord-friendly-stopped-after-14-minutes-to-pay-cruyff

I think the same thing is planned for Holland v France tonight too.

[The Red Baron]

It would be nice if football fans across the country applauded in the 14th minute of games this weekend.