Mike Dean had an excellent game yesterday in the exciting Tottenham vs Chelsea game at White Hart Lane, but his weakness in one apparently minor area could very nearly have had a major influence on the outcome of the game.
I only noticed it by chance. Halfway through the first half Tottenham won a free kick about 40 yards out, more or less in line with the Chelsea goal. Not too dangerous a position, one that usually forces the attacking team to play the ball wide and build an attack that way.
Dean walked the small wall back 10 yards and dealt with a minor issue in the penalty area. The Sky camera then panned back to the free kick taker and to my surprise the ball was about 10 yards wider to the left. A minor cheek, you might argue, but this change completely the angle of the approach for the kicker, allowing him to float in a free kick that directly threatened the Chelsea goal and allowed Spurs to attack.
As a referee, we tend to give a little leeway for free kicks, especially when they're in non-goal threatening situations. In the team's own half, I really don't mind where a free kick is taken as long as the taker isn't advancing 20 yards.
But referees must realise that just by moving the ball 10 yards to the right or left can transform a non-threatening free kick into a dangerous one. Most refs are aware of this threat when free kicks are given just outside the penalty area. Players prefer an angle to take a free kick and have problems kicking the ball in a straight line.
Yesterday, I spotted this happen a couple more times and then one minute into the second half it happened. Jon Obi Mikel fouled a Tottenham player about 25 yards from the touchline. The free kick was taken abour 15 yards from the touchline and the excellently struck free kick resulted in a goal.
That's why it's important to get the little things right.
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