The Ref Stop

Mike Dean (City v. Chelsea)

M

Matthew

RefChat Addict
Just got in from the game and I'm feeling more than a little bit frustrated.

Mike Dean is one of our best refs (at least in my opinion) but he was uncharacteristically poor this afternoon. Ruined what was an excellent game.

He set his stall out early, giving a number of unnecessary and soft yellow cards, meaning that every foul became a yellow card; 6 in total in what wasn't a particularly dirty first half. He created a problem and it almost seemed inevitable somebody was going to be sent off.

Haven't seen the challenge that led to Zabba's red yet, so I'll reserve judgement until MOTD. However, the first yellow was very soft. Also, how did Costa stay on the pitch. He grabbed Zabba round the neck, that's violent conduct in my book. Had to go. Not sure how Fabregas escaped a booking though; various fouls, kicked the ball away and waved an imaginary card when Silva was booked.

I'll wait for MOTD for this one too, but looked like both teams should've had penalties in the first half.
 
The Ref Stop
Seen all sorts of rants on the Facebook and Twitter, gonna leave judgement until I've seen the highlights, providing I'm still awake
 
Right, seen the highlights, no less annoyed.

The first yellow card was very, very soft. Not sure a booking was coming for the second challenge, Costa got him sent off as far as I'm concerned. He raised his hands and they were around Zabaleta's neck.

Chelsea penalty appeal; it would've been a harsh one. Yaya, on the other hand, that's a foul anywhere else on the pitch.

Liked what Gary Neville said; he could have reffed the game differently. It wasn't a dirty game but he made a rod for his own back by making every challenge into a booking.
 
First yellow. Nailed on. Not the first attempt at bringing Hazard down, at least one other player tried and failed - it's a "tactical" foul, and there are few more unsporting things than that.

Second yellow: Again nailed on. A swipe from behind. No arguments.

Costa - his hands initially went onto his shoulders and as they wrestle one another they go up towards his neck but away straight away. There was no attempt to throttle Zabaleta as his Tw*tter image appears to show. Costa was rightly cautioned for adopting an aggressive attitude however.

Yaya Toure: Please... that's never a free kick anywhere let alone a penalty. The Man Utd - Leicester game had a clear foul not given (on Rafael before the first penalty). If anyone will have get a call from the PGMO it's Clattenburg for that one.
 
I've recorded the match and watched the first twenty minutes. The first caution was absolutely right; it was a tactical foul and therefore USB -- regardless of whether it was careless or reckless. I'll have to watch the rest to comment on anything else but, frankly, I don't think Mike had the howler you're making it out to be.
 
Watched the game again this afternoon (yes, I've got far too much time on my hands at the moment). I still think that the red card was harsh; two fouls, two yellows. I also think that the altercation created by Costa's reaction, rather than the foul itself, was the reason for the second yellow. Costa raised his hands, and no matter how briefly, his hands were around Zabaleta's neck, very lucky.

I'll reiterate the point I made yesterday. The game would have benefitted from a different approach by Mr Dean; both teams were trying to get at each other and apply pressure on the ball. Inevitably, challenges were going to be mistimed and perhaps a quiet word would have sufficed rather than a booking for almost every foul in the first half. There's a number of different ways to control a match, and I think the ref was wrong on this occasion.

We're all guilty of being slightly biased when it involves our own teams. The amount of disagreement on this thread sums up why we all love football so much! :)
 
pctClyJzp
Yep I also agree with what Neville said (unusually)
Edit: I did also have a picture but couldn't get it to work, so it's here. https://imageshack.com/i/pctClyJzp
 
I've taken notes about the incidents leading up to and including the first yellow card after rewatching the beginning of the match. Based on all of this information, I agree completely with it.

2nd Minute: Foul by Ivanovic on Kun Aguero; good decision, good attempt at advantage.

4th Minute: Foul by Azpilicueta on on Silva; good decision.

6th Minute: Foul by Silva on Willian; good decision.

7th Minute: Coming together between Costa and Kompany off the ball, no foul given, no shout for foul. Good decision.

8th Minute: Coming together between Fernandinho and Ramires, no foul given, Ramires shouts for foul, unsure about correct or incorrect.

10th Minute: Coming together between Hazard and Zabaleta, no foul given, shout from Hazard, possibly a foul as Zabaleta has come through the back of him. What we need to note now is that Man City are closing down Chelsea’s midfield hard and not giving them time on the ball. While they haven’t crossed any lines, it is entirely likely that they will begin to frustrate Chelsea’s talented midfield by not allowing them time and space to use their creativity.

11th Minute: Possible foul by Diego Costa on Magnala, however the ball comes to Kolarov so advantage is played – although no signal (probably none necessary due to the trifling nature of the foul).

11th Minute: Foul by Fernandinho on Willian. Things to note: five or six Man City players were pushed up in attack, leaving the middle of the pitch wide open (20 yards at least to run into if Willian breaks free, and Willian is pacey and has a great deal of flair and technical ability so is very dangerous when given that kind of space); as mentioned earlier, Man City are playing on the edge in the midfield. Therefore, it is important, in this moment, that Mike Dean stamp some authority on the midfield action and show that he is in control. This foul could be cautioned for two reasons: USB for reckless challenge (Fernandinho does launch himself into the tackle with a fair bit of heft) or for tactical foul (given the danger of the oncoming attack – a 3 on 4 with pacey, talented midfield and strikers coming up against a defensive four that are not known for their pace). He does this and cautions Fernandinho.
 
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