Cruyff, Michels Part 2

Into Part 2 we go and Cruyff’s transfer to Barcelona. Manager Rinus Michels was injecting his DNA into the club and the Barca eventually claimed the top dog status following Cruyff’s arrival from a mid-table position. This elevated the maestro to being awarded the Ballon d’Or for a second time. It became a double celebration with the national side qualifying for the Word Cup, the first time since 1938.

During the 1974 season, Michels was appointed the national team manager in a part time capacity and the Total Football blueprint was DNA stamped onto the national team but failed to deliver the World Cup v West Germany losing 2 to 1 with the prolific goal scorer the great Gerd Muller the catalyst for the orange men’s downfall. There was some icing on the cake with Cruyff winning a third Ballon d’Or, the world’s greatest player of his generation.

At the Barcelona, too many alterations with team personnel led to a lack of cohesion, finishing second in La Liga led to Michels exiting the club being replaced by the German coach Hennes Weisweiler, but Cruyff was the ruler and laid down the ground rules billboarded to Weisweiler “You determine the tactics beforehand and I determine the tactics on the pitch”. Cruyff had the support of the fans and the German exited eight months later. The arrival of Lucian Muller came with the brief, Cruyff makes the team selections. The 1976 Euros saw Holland exit at the semi-final stage to the Czechs with Cruff’s krypton factor on the wane. Calf injury problems dogged Cruff with the pace and movement being diluted, at the age of thirty football’s father time was beating fast. In 1978 Cruyff and Michels left Barcelona with Johan retiring from football. Post football Cruyff indulged in various business ventures leading to abject failure and was scammed for huge sums of money. The Maestro returned to football and hit the American dream joining Los Angeles Aztecs, yes you’ve guessed it, in situ as manager Rinus Michels, the ‘Cruyff, Michels effect’, the link up of two greats in the annals of time.

To embrace the culture with a desire to be part of the build on the American termed soccer unlike the mercenaries of Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller who came took the money and departed. Two seasons in the USA before returning to Ajax at the age of 34, a slower but a visionary that never dies. Remarkably, Ajax won the title again with Johan at the helm, the heartbeat. Jealousy can run rife in football, one of life’s quirks. The message was loud and clear, do not renege on the maestro, redemption was served joining Ajax’s bitter rivals Feyenoord. Johan’s impact was immediate, Cruyff the leader, the play maker, Total Football, a league and cup was achieved to mark the greatness. A new chapter was about to begin, Cruyff’s expanded Total Football to Barcelona in management, the link, Rinus Michels -> Johan Cruyff and to hit our shores Pep Guardiola. The starting point, the creator Michels, the Manero rejuvenates the master to the top table, to be revered, to be spoken about, they will never be forgotten on this watch. The Rinus Michels – Johan Cruyff effect continues to breathe through the eyes of Guardiola, we thank you Pep, they are watching, heaven sent.

Jurgen Klopp

The shock announcement of Jurgen Klopp’s impending departure at the season’s end could never have been predicted. Jurgen, charismatic, passionate and forthright came clean on his decision to leave, stating that his energy levels would not be at the required levels in the future to manage the club. Jurgan’s mantra to English football came with counter attacking football at breath taking speed with a high press, the rebel with a cause to make Liverpool great again, link to article Aug 5^th 2020 ‘Champions of England’ archived. Jurgen will be a big loss to English Football “You will never walk alone”.

It’s a Stitch Up?

There’s always been a whiff around that Tyson Fury is on the chicken run from the current WBA IBF, WBO and IBO. Champion Oleksander Usyk following Fury’s claim that he incurred a cut above the right eye during a sparring session to choose the cancellation of the dated February fight, Usyk v Fury the WBC belt holder. Questions indeed, was the cut in real time or was it put there. Is the Fury photo put out there showing a lean framed Fury in the present time, was it doctored, turn to the expert Prince Andrew, any sweating on this one, you bet. Link to article Dec 5^th 2023 ‘The Lamps Out?’ Tyson Fury archived. Fury is not a trusted figure in the public’s eye lens and many suspected that Fury would engineer an exit, is that the case? It has traction, it has to be a stich up doesn’t it?