The best there ever was

Hi. Day 4. And I’m rather enjoying these thoughts about football. It’s a delight to express ideas via words and I’m grateful that few have read and liked my previous entries.

Tonight, I wanted to pay homage to a man to whom football owes a lot. A man who passed away recently from a horrible disease (I’ll write about cancer one day – effects on patient and family). A man that single-handedly laid down the foundations of a modern superclub. A man who had footballing moves named after him. Of course, I’m talking about Johan Cruyff.

The Famous Cruyff Turn

I’m no FC Barcelona fan. But it doesn’t take one to appreciate all that they have achieved in the last decade. And to appreciate their football. FC Barcelona’s influence was enormous and its impact was seen by the world in South Africa 2010 WC. Very rarely does it happen that a club stamps this kind of authority on the footballing world. That club was shaped into this giant by one man’s philosophy – as a player and then a manager. Cruyff.

I won’t pretend I know every detail on his career. It ended before my time though you hear of legends from previous era when you start following the game seriously. George Best. Herbert Chapman. Bobby Charlton. Socrates. Maradona. Pele. Cruyff. The more I read about Cruyff, the more I loved him. I’ll explain why a bit later. Let’s just first look at what the man achieved. He won everything there was to win at Ajax that he could. 8 league titles. 5 domestic cups and 3 European cups. This was followed by league and cup in Spain with FC Barcelona. And this is his record just as a player. As he stepped into management, he won the league 4 times with FCB, domestic cups with Ajax and FCB, the European Cup winners cup (equivalent of modern Europa league) with both Ajax and FCB and the European cup with FCB. Personal honors include 3 Balon D’ors. World Cup Golden Ball. Named in World Cup All-time XI. World Cup Dream XI. And the Greatest XI of all time. I wikied that up – I really wanted to highlight the fact that Johan Cruyff achieved everything one can hope for.

And how he did it! With style, grace and honor. The reason why I endear Cryuff so much is his footballing style. I have watched him only on YouTube and there is sheer magic in those videos which are 30 years old! Johan Cruyff once famously said – “You play football to win. But winning without quality is pointless.” He made it a point that his sides would play attractive football. Football that would mesmerize everyone who watches. Football which inspires kids to pick up the ball to replicate the trick they saw on television. Do we forget that this game is entertainment too amidst all the drama and tension? When was the last time you truly enjoyed watching a game of football? Chances are if you watched his teams (and watch the current FCB team too) you absolutely understand what I’m talking about.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Hollandse Hoogte/REX Shutterstock (5288276c)

Football is about winning. Yes. Of course. No-one wants to be at the losing end. Cruyff didn’t want to as well in the loss in arguably the biggest game of his life. But the way he played in the ’74 WC and the entire Dutch side – they have passed into folklore. We have visionaries sometimes who grace us with their presence. And they change the world around us. They don’t play just by the rules. They bend them to create something special. Dutch Total Footballing sides will forever be remembered for their performances. I know the idea was not originally a brainwave from Johan Cruyff but to execute it so brilliantly at such a big stage; they have found a way to go down in history with the word linked with them.

Cryuff in my view was more than just an excellent player. He was a master. A visionary.  He doesn’t have the goalscoring record of Pele. He doesn’t have the outrageous mixture of skill and leadership that Maradona had. But in my books Johan Cruyff will go down as the best to have played this game. If you get time, read some of his interviews. Go through his quotes. His philosophy and way of thinking on the game and on life has changed careers. Inspired so many. More than just a person with his name in the record books. His legacy can be seen at Camp Nou and at Ajax even today.

Quotes Link 1   Quotes Link 2

As he had rightly said, Johan is immortal. He really is but we so miss him.

P.S. – If you haven’t seen it already, spare 25 mins of your time you won’t regret – Football’s Greatest – Johan Cruyff

Perceptions

Hi. There isn’t much arsenal news for me to write about. Bellerin has been included in Spain’s Euros squad – he deserved that and Giroud was booed by the French crowd who wanted Benzema instead. If I am not wrong, Benzema was caught in some sex scandal and dug his own grave there. I do find it harsh on Giroud, who plays well in French colors but some go around with permanent sticky notes on their heads for a lot of people. Suarez’s one incident with Evra and he is forever a racist. LVG’s UCL winning brains are worthless. Moyes’s Everton stint (a decade long) has no importance because of his 7 month stint at Man Utd. Bendtner is the worst player in the world. CR7 wins balon d’ors for penalty celebrations and Giroud is absolutely shit. So Giroud had it coming – or so the mob will let you believe.

I have seen a few games live in the stadium for my local team – East Bengal. I’ve always found it a better way to support the team than on TV. Or via the internet. And I’ll extend that to European clubs. Being part of an online footballing community for years now – I’ve seen the best and the worst of it. The best would obviously be finding good knowledgeable friends. Ones who share your passion for the club. Ones who get the game and its nuances. Ones who take pride in their team.

And then there are the weird ones. They can be categorized broadly into 2 categories. Trollers – watching football is cool. Let’s mock the Zidanes and Guardiolas of the world – because it is fun. They spell stupidity as ‘R-I-V-A-L-R-Y’. And the second category would be the frustrated souls. Everything is shit for them. Everything sucks. The manager. The players. The board. The game. Their rants after losing a game are hilarious for anyone not invested in that team’s loss.

Where the arsenal community had a good culture shock this season was at the Norwich game. The team blew a good opportunity to land a league title for the first time in a decade. Reactions online were fierce. And a protest was planned together by 3 of the biggest Arsenal fan clubs around. It wasn’t a protest per se that they’d shout and interrupt the game, in essence it was a voice that the fans weren’t happy. And then things went a bit overboard.

Quoting Tim Stillman (@stilberto) – “Majority of the arsenal fans who visit the Emirates had no clue that a protest was planned. There don’t breathe arsenal 24X7 like our fans on the net. They disconnect. At the end of each game. A pint. And home. When they heard slight abuses towards the manager – they roared back chanting for the manager. Many want change. None wanted to be a part of the disrespect though. You saw it at the end of the season too. Gooners online were vilifying the club. The board and the manager. The ones at the stadium were chanting the manager’s name. There is a huge difference between the two sections of fans.”

Why did I bring this up? Firstly, shows that perceptions are like broken glass. You get half an image, sometimes even less. The club for which Giroud plays for; their fans abuse him on the internet and the fans on the ground sing his name. Someday, I will write on my views on the player and his limitations but today wanted to stick to the image. A few days ago, Cr7 was trolled for celebrations after winning the UCL. Imagine that – his spot kick just won his club the biggest trophy there is at the club level and we judge him for celebrating? What should he have done? Cry? Seriously?

These are all talented superstars. The best there is in their country. In case of cr7 probably in the world. Even Denmark’s Bentdner. Are we quick to judge people and often harshly? Is it just trolling and just fun – are you sure there’s no malice behind it? Bebe – Man Utd legend as he is mockingly referred to, he played for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson – do you realise it?

Footballers, whether or not they play for the club you support, are humans. They don’t live under our permission. I have seen so many people criticizing an ex-player celebrating a goal vs a former club? Why should he be under any obligation not to celebrate? Why judge? I know it sounds hypocritical coming from an Arsenal fan – our history of ex-players and our resentment. It is not ridicule however for their lack of talent in our small eyes. It is resentment that a talented player quit our club. Do we mourn losing Almunia or a Cesc?

If you believe this is too serious for you, I need to chill out, have some fun dissing players, maybe this blog isn’t for you. Just saying. Time and again, I rant. And when I do so – I write!

So long till tomorrow. I’ll try a more cheerful topic !!

 

Stevie G – Not the musician (or was he not?)

Hey. Arsenal blog – right? Mourinho one day. Gerrard the other. What am I doing? Should this be rebranded as a footballing blog instead? Unfortunately, I don’t follow much world football to really call it that. So – Arsenal blog when we have arsenal news. Eh?

Gerrard – was born some 30-35 odd years ago in Merseyside (I don’t really know his age and I don’t really want to be appear that knowledgeable thanks to Google). What I know for sure is –

• Today (May 30) is his birthday.
• He was a fantastic footballer.

My earliest memories of Stevie Gerrard is that he did not play for Arsenal. But if only arsenal players were ones arsenal fans loved – the world would have been a sadder place. That’d mean only arsenal fans would appreciate Dennis Bergkamp (God incarnate in my eyes). The first memories I have of him – is a special goal from distance. It was late at night well past 2 am and a sleepy me was seeing Liverpool crash out of UCL. And then he stepped up. Olympiakos. That goal. That moment.

That Olympiakos goal

And he did it again – in the UCL final that year. One that goes down in history. Istanbul. The name of the city is enough. He scored a similar one in the FA Cup vs West Ham the next year. 90th min. The moment when great players step up. And what a finish that. A 17-year me was mesmerized to such an extend I’ll never forget my reaction. I don’t think I’ve ever cheered a non-arsenal goal that much (excluding WCs)

West Ham goal

Actually one needen’t really follow the EPL to hear these names : Terry. Lampard. Gerrard. If you watched the WC only once in 4 years – you’d hear these English names. What these meant to their respective clubs – to get that – you need to follow some football. And 2006 onwards – ‘some’ is an understatement for the league football I’ve followed.

Stevie G was Liverpool for me. One person. Representing the club. It’s values. It’s significance. It’s not-to-give-up-attitude. And I loved him – even if he was not in my team’s colors. His style of play and his mannerism was amazing to watch. And his goals. Woof. Trademark free-kicks. Long driving goals (bottom corner). Gerrard drove Liverpool and he was the perfect example of world class midfielder – and yet not the Zidanes that’d lead to over-awe. You could relate to Gerrard. He was human.  He cried. He missed. And he won far lesser trophies than he could have – had he quit Liverpool. He didn’t. Have I mentioned how much I love loyalty in players? If I havent and you follow my blog posts – you’d find me mentioning it every alternate day. Liverpool gave Gerrard the platform. Gerrard gave Liverpool himself. There are moments when the player might feel he’s underachieving and the club doesn’t do enough .. cough..cough..rvp.. but what are those shiny medals on the walls worth if you are not respected? What is it you chase? Money? Fame? or simple love? Some respect. Pride in being not a money-grabber or gloryhunter? I guess people will have opposing views but is a UCL with liverpool the same worth as the one with Galaticos of Real Madrid – where you are a part but a small part and Ronaldos and Zidanes are the reason you have that shiny medal in the cupboard? Or the joy of leading your boyhood club – the club you support and love – is that joy comparable to 10 league medals in a different nation? Come on ! Football is not always about winning. It’s about romantism. And respect.

Images via Reuters

I look up to Gerrard. A lot. And hence find the onslaught of abuses/jokes despicable in the social media age from rival fans – including arsenal ones. What he achieved on the grandest stage of them all, we’d never match that personally and our clubs they’ll struggle to get there. I truly wanted to state this, on the internet, that if you find his emotions in his club’s unbelievable title chase few summers back funny – ‘This doesn’t slip’ season with Suarez, the passion and the want for the biggest trophy in England, if that is used as troll material – you sire need to question your footballing upbringing and are hiding that under the pretext of ‘rivalry’. You don’t get to use the ‘R’ of rivalry if you can’t distinguish between sheer romanticism and proper malice. But then isn’t he special to bring that side out of you?

Stevie Gerrard would long be remembered with this game. For fans of clubs alike. He brought that out of you – genuine loveliness. And I for one, am so so grateful – not only to him – but Lampard Drogba Beckham included for making me love football. Understand it. Live it.

Thank you.

P.S. – I know the blog looks weird. I can’t seem to customize it much. I guess we’ll know who the Euro winner is before we figure that out.

P.P.S. – On his birthday – this is what I gifted myself. 😀

MoUtd

Should I be talking about Mourinho in what will be mostly about Arsenal? Maybe. Maybe not. But I will. A big name. A big move.

Jose Mourinho is a person you can’t ignore. He’s like the large dog next door belonging to your neighbor. Now, either you love dogs and are happy you see him everyday on your way to work. Or you hate them and you can’t wait for the neighbor to move out. Or you are scared out of your wits by that dog. Point is you can’t ignore you have a huge freaking dog next door. Because everytime you forget about the dog, it’ll do something to remind you it’s there. Rant in a press conference. Howl about how the owner doesn’t offer the best dog biscuits. Or try to bite your hand off because you seemed happy.

Anyways, Mourinho has been signed by Man Utd on a long term deal. A news greeted with happiness among Utd fans. Whatever my views on him might be, Jose Mourinho has won a lot of trophies. His profile is almost as big as the club he’s signed for – so for me there’s little surprise there.

The irony is the closest Chelsea has come to a lovable manager in the last decade, someone who matched their identity, is now with a title rival. They did however sack him. Twice. So, fair doing if love for Chelsea didn’t stop Jose.

So, what does it mean? Jose and Utd. Together. Scary? Or more fun? He loves hoops and you can watch on the railing all day as he tries to catch his tail. Entertainment is a sure shot guarantee. His favorite person, Monsieur Wenger hasn’t won a trophy in the 5 months he’s been unemployed, so that’s bound to come up. His favorite club finished as the worst defending champions (in terms of league standings the year after winning the league) – so there’s plenty to dish around before it comes back to his throat. And I nearly forgot fat Benitez got relegated. I’m dead sure if Utd draw Newcastle in any cups, the man who nearly himself got the champions into relegation spots, would bring it up.

It’ll be interesting. To say the least. Mou and Utd. Utd spend a lot of money and that’ll suit him. He’ll look to build a squad no-one really knows how it’s still incomplete, if we look at the money spent to improve it.

Man Utd last won the league in 2013. 3 seasons ago. Since then they’ve finished – 7th, 4th and 5th. For a fanbase so used to being the best and winning nearly every season under Ferguson – this is a crisis. Or so it feels. At least it is for brand Manchester United. A brand that rakes in millions from sponsors. Millions from kit sales all over the world. From partners and investors. Man Utd went the Real Madrid way sometime back – they don’t sell their football to their fans, they sell the brand name. The experience. And that doesn’t go with LVG getting the best out of Martial (who everyone thought was not worth the money) or Rashford. What matters now is the leagues and the glories return to Old Trafford – before the disillusioned turn away. And that’s what Mourinho is there to do. Win. And for all the jokes I’ve cracked – we all know he can do that. Point being he’ll probably be sacked within a year after that – but they’ll be hoping before the inevitable, he can bring something more precious in trophies that lvg managed in his 2 years.

It’ll come at a cost – which they probably know and understand. Mourinho wants to win and trusting in youth is always a gamble. The young are often inconsistent and that hurts title challenges. So, chances are high we’ll again see “Why play talented youngsters when we can buy expensive stars for bench” strategy. It works, so hey, don’t grudge losing a KDB or Lukaku – just that utd prides itself on its academy, so it’s a weird one.

Anyways, after a long rant, I’ve nothing to say now. ( 😀 ) Welcome back Mourinho, you bad boy. Now, fetch !!

P.S. – Mata and bench’s reunion will be a love story bringing more tears than the Notebook.