1.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 00:58:24
Ed1, bravo! I have read up to part 4 will read the rest in the morning. You have a gift with research and writing mate, that's pretty evident, thank you for writing about the most important man in the sport and most importantly, getting it right. There's so many people who try to write about such legends and get their information incorrect which really winds me up, it's disrespectful. You have clearly took your time to do plenty of research and got it spot on, thank you mate, I can't wait to read the rest.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate, I split it up deliberately so it could be read in parts, for those with limited time, such as at work. That's why I used the quotes to break it up, so you can easily find where you are up to, as, initially, it was going to be one long page.}

2.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 05:33:25
Great read, thanks.
The only player to have defied the corporate might of Adidas - have a look at Holland's Adidas shirt. Cruyf's has only two stripes!
He was apparently personally sponsored with Puma at the time.

{Ed001's Note - yes it is mentioned in the article mate. He also defied Puma when he decided their boots were hurting his feet he would just wear more comfortable boots despite being penalised financially each time he did so.}

3.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 06:32:08
This was fascinating to read ED, and I still get the impression that there are many more stories and anecdotes that you probably could've mentioned but simply didn't have the time to. An excellent piece, really is fascinating to see how much of an impact he had on the game.

{Ed001's Note - hundreds mate. I used about half of the stuff I found. A lot less actually, as I am only talking about the football stuff and not his foundation or the work of his institute/college/academy or the Cruyff courts and Cruyff Classics stuff. There was so much on him it could have gone on forever. The reason it took so long after finishing the research was trying to cut it down to make it a manageable read.}

4.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 08:27:23
That was a brilliant read Ed. My favourite was probably part 8, and his statement on the responsibility is on the passer of the ball to make sure the receiver is well placed to turn etc. That was an eye opener for me in a way that he makes it easy to understand.

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate. A lot of his stuff should be basic stuff kids learn but very few actually do.}

5.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 08:58:42
Well Ed, I read the rest and just as I previously said, absolutely fantastic mate, it really was. I have always enjoyed your articles but that one for me, is that bit more special because of who it's about so has to be my favourite and will not be the last time I read it. Thank you very much for writing such a piece. I wish Cruyff's loved ones could read this, to see somebody has made an effort to write about the man himself, so accurately, I'm sure they'd love it!

{Ed001's Note - I am glad you think so, but I think having a Cruyff family member read it would be nerve-racking!}

6.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 09:18:57
Hahaha! I'm sure it would be mate, thanks again. Maybe its too soon to ask but what will the next article be?

{Ed001's Note - Tyson mate. Then it is a CM/FM legends article after that.}

7.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 09:25:08
I really liked the cigarette packet story ed, sometimes little stories like that reveal more about a person than winning a league title.
I would love to hear from you ed though on how different LFC would look now if he was persuaded to join us after FSG bought the club.

{Ed001's Note - that is one big regret I have that he never took up their offer. Everything would be so different and would have put us a huge step forward earlier. The academy would have benefitted massively just from having his presence around. He was an inspirational man, as well as highly intelligent, so the whole club would have been lifted. No Andy Carroll for sure, as he would have been the DoF instead of Commolli and there is no way Cruyff would have signed Carroll.}

8.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 09:35:11
Oh of course yes you did mention about Tyson yesterday, I must be getting old lol I look forward to them mate :)

{Ed001's Note - getting?}

9.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 09:53:40
Wow, I'd done you a disservice. I'd only read parts 1 and 2!
That was absolutely fantastic, so apologies for that.
My favourite player of all time.
In the early 70's I played a lot of schools, boys club and weekend football.
There were stock strips, without club badges, that you could get from the sports shops.
Of the continental ones, there was the black / blue and black / red stripes of the two Milan clubs.
There was also the white and red panelled Ajax shirt. Imagine that, kids in NW England running around local parks thinking they were Johan Cruyf.
He always expressed a regret that he hadn't played in England. I wonder if Paisley would have signed him, what do you reckon?

{Ed001's Note - oh god that would have been fantastic. Cruyff was perfect for Paisley. A lot of the concepts he developed where ones Paisley himself employed.}

10.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 10:47:38
That's what I keep telling myself Ed1 anyway mate lol I'll never be quite old, Im always just getting there haha! It's my Birthday in 2 weeks time, I'm going to start counting backwards.

{Ed001's Note - if only you were as lucky as I am, I am still young and beautiful. I was lucky enough to be born perfect and got better with each passing day....}

11.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 10:57:26
It would have been the end of Toshack, no long ball stuff - although ironically it was a Toshack goal at the Nou Camp that did for Barcelona in the 1976 UEFA Cup.
I'd like to think that Cruyff and Keegan could have played together, in a similar way perhaps that he did with Brooking for England.
What a thought.
Cheers Ed.

{Ed001's Note - LFC at that time was always looking to evolve past that anyway.}

12.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 11:03:37
Excellent article Ed001. You've really surpassed yourself this time. A completely pleasurable experience reading about the great man, in a very well-written article

I remember reading around the 1974 World Cup that many people had placed Cruyff above Pele as a player. Although I would disgree with that (I know I am biased for Brazilian players), I do agree that no man has influenced modern football more than Cruyff. So many top level teams (including LFC) play the way he taught and theorized.

My question to you is would you place Messi and Ronaldo above Cruyff as a player (and only as a player)? My opinion is that Cruyff was better. Primarily because of the times and environment that Cruyff played in, and the one Messi and Ronaldo play in today. The latter play in such a protected and extremely comfortable environment that they are always in an optimal condition to focus and perform on the pitch. Finances are more than comfortable, training and facilities are the best, medical assistance and recovery is the best, and safety and security are also considerably advanced. Everything "off-field" is optimized so that they can focus on simply applying their skills and performing "on field". On the other hand, Cruyff (and all players of his era) didn't have the extent of the favorable "environment" that exists today. Would you agree?

{Ed001's Note - physically Cruyff cannot compare to either, technically they are probably all much of a muchness, but tactically he was light years ahead of anyone, including them. Given the advantages of the modern day player, the training regimes etc, he would be head and shoulders above them both. However he did not have access to those, so it is a difficult comparison and we can't know how they would have dealt with the kickings he received. It is difficult to see either being able to handle it though.

I would have to say that, due to his extreme intelligence, you would have to think Cruyff would be the one who would find it easier to adapt of the 3. So, for me at least, I would have to give the edge to Cruyff.}

13.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 11:19:16
Thanks Ed001 👍.

{Ed001's Note - welcome mate.}

14.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 12:50:37
Thanks ed, really enjoyed the article! must have taken you a while to say the least. its fascinating what 1 man could do for a sport!

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, it has taken months of research.}

15.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 13:24:49
What an excellent write up. Loved the quotes at the beginning of each section.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate glad you enjoyed. I have tons more quotes that were never used. I am sure they will come in handy as fillers when there is not enough news to fill up the Review of the Day in future though!}

16.) 09 Apr 2018
09 Apr 2018 15:43:16
Ever thought of doing the whole book ed? Or even a compendium, 'The Men Who Made Footbal' type thing. Really enjoyed that and would love to read more.