The Ref Stop

Retirement

James P

Well-Known Member
Mike Dean to retire? Commentator for the City game said it could be his last ever FA Cup game as he’s retiring at the end of the season. Wonder if Moss, Atkinson and the rest of the old guard will follow suit?
 
The Ref Stop
Putting aside his demigod status (only briefly, don't worry).

Hes brave and never afraid to make decisions. That's what I like about him. Whenever the PGMOL csme up with initiatives to remove time wasting, shirt pulling in the box, dissent by means of moving the free kick 10 yards forward (all ill fated as hardly any refs carried them out), Dean was brave enough to do it.

Yes he's different, possibly even a bit odd. But he's a character, he's not robotic. Not many of them in football these days
 
He must be 20 years of top flight games now, to still be at the top level and have his tremendous fitness level, he has been a credit to himself
As we see often, he is a decent football man too,


I met him once, he was on holiday and came to watch the game i was Ar on, as he knew the ref back from fifa days, lovely guy.

Suppose the next question is, does he be a var specialist, or, does he even want to be one
 
I'll be sad to see him go.

One of the very few refs at the top level who lets his personality show on the pitch. A real character and an exceptional referee.
 
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If true it is a loss to the game. But it was coming at some point.

A lot of the current elite crop are coming to the end of their careers, they just aren't in the same condition they used to be. Some are reliant solely on experience in positioning as the legs just don't get them there now.

This isn't a slant on them they have had fine careers and are still top top referees but eventually the knees and legs go, nope no more and I think a few are arriving at that point now.

THe fitness level combined with the youthful ess of players is a very high level to maintain into your 50s. Kudos to these guys that are doing it.
 

Apologies for the source. Suggestion is that he's going full time VAR.
Think this will be the route for most retiring SG1 referees from now on. Also means that PGMOL won't have to bring anyone up from SG2 to be on purely VAR and 4O duties, with only 1 or 2 middles a year.
 
please can he take over from peter walton...a ref with a bit of personality could do a very good job in that role

He would be tremendous in this role. Walton seems a very nice chap but let's be honest, referees have a reputation for being dull and Mr Walton & Mr Gallagher don't exactly help that stereotype when they're on our screens!
 
Its really a shame that's he is retiring, quite enjoyed watching the complication of him on YouTube joking around with the players. Although I do wonder now who the fans are going to complain about now. As I swear anytime I go on football forums people are just complaining about referees and Mike Dean is at the top of that list.
 
Its really a shame that's he is retiring, quite enjoyed watching the complication of him on YouTube joking around with the players. Although I do wonder now who the fans are going to complain about now. As I swear anytime I go on football forums people are just complaining about referees and Mike Dean is at the top of that list.

Ironic thing is, you cant get a more football referee than Dean, its not for show, he gen is a supporter, likes a pint and cheering on his team

fans always moan refs are out of touch with the game, have no feeling etc, yet for 20 years each week they have seen one of their own out their on the pitch
 
Ironic thing is, you cant get a more football referee than Dean, its not for show, he gen is a supporter, likes a pint and cheering on his team

fans always moan refs are out of touch with the game, have no feeling etc, yet for 20 years each week they have seen one of their own out their on the pitch
Yeah I've seen I remember I think it was like 2 years ago I saw this thing where is local football team got through to something and the camera was panning around the arena and in one of the stalls there he was sat drinking a beer.

More importantly im intrigued to what he will bring to VAR
 
He would be tremendous in this role. Walton seems a very nice chap but let's be honest, referees have a reputation for being dull and Mr Walton & Mr Gallagher don't exactly help that stereotype when they're on our screens!
I was really impressed with him on the Peter Crouch podcast. Funny, concise, not afraid to poke fun at himself, and gave real answers. He obviously won’t do this if he’s a dedicated VAR, but I hope he does some TV one day.
 
I was really impressed with him on the Peter Crouch podcast. Funny, concise, not afraid to poke fun at himself, and gave real answers. He obviously won’t do this if he’s a dedicated VAR, but I hope he does some TV one day.

There's a recorded podcast on YouTube with Jeff Winter. Hes a funny guy. A real people person. He just loves football like any fan does. Same with Dean. These are the people we want to represent us on tv. Not Walton and Gallagher. Like I said they're clearly really nice guys but what young person watches these 2 on tv and thinks "I wouldn't mind reffing". They could send a glass eye to sleep.
 
There's a recorded podcast on YouTube with Jeff Winter. Hes a funny guy. A real people person. He just loves football like any fan does. Same with Dean. These are the people we want to represent us on tv. Not Walton and Gallagher. Like I said they're clearly really nice guys but what young person watches these 2 on tv and thinks "I wouldn't mind reffing". They could send a glass eye to sleep.
I've heard an interview with Winter and it came across more as him really not liking Mike Riley and therefore taking any opportunity to have a dig at how things are now under his leadership and to moan about modern football. I'll have to look out for the interview you're talking about as the one I heard didn't end up with him in a particularly positive light in my eyes.
 
I've heard an interview with Winter and it came across more as him really not liking Mike Riley and therefore taking any opportunity to have a dig at how things are now under his leadership and to moan about modern football. I'll have to look out for the interview you're talking about as the one I heard didn't end up with him in a particularly positive light in my eyes.
I think Ben meant that Mike Dean came across well(?)
 
I think Ben meant that Mike Dean came across well(?)

No I was referring to Jeff Winter on the YouTube video (I'll find a link). I totally agree with @GraemeS when he says that he takes every opportunity to have a pop at Mike Riley and modern refereeing. Some of it holds water, some of it doesn't. But ultimately he and Mike Dean and football men and are characters are I respect them for that.
 
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