Interestingly the stats don't back that up.I thought the same about Webb, and I know I've had that discussion with someone on here before!
I'm not saying Taylor is a "bad" referee at all, I obviously understand how he came to work in the PL. But it's the suggestion that he's our best that I've always taken issue with - I think he's too shy with a red card and I think it's Oliver's ability to make that kind of big call that stands him out and should see AT regarded as a "decent PL referee" a tier below MO and no more.
(If anything, support from the FA and UEFA only supports my point - the idea that the governing bodies might prefer a referee who tends to avoid sending off the stars is not a suggestion I've just come up with now, it's a long-standing concept!)
And I'm not denying that the VAR resulting in a slightly greater tendency to go yellow isn't an issue that exists. I'm just saying that I think AT's tendency to avoid red whenever there's even the slightest sliver of doubt has existed since before VAR. Some referees take "management" too far and while I admit that linking it to the bald ones is a little tongue-in-cheek, we can ignore that pattern and my opinions on AT will remain the same.
MO PL apps 300 red cards 39
AT PL Apps 293 red cards 40.
Conversely AT has given more yellow cards, 984 - 950.
So AT is actually marginally more likely to send a player off in a PL game and has a higher cautions per game ratio.
Obviously, this doesn't account for the many many variables such as VAR overturns, perceived missed red cards, what actually happens in the games ie.
Can draw lots of conclusions from Stats but one thing that this definitely shows is that AT is not as shy as you perceive him to be.
I actually rate At very highly and honestly reckon without England making it he was in line for the final.