Do I think Taylor is an Altrincham fan - No, but it's a badge of convenience without doubt so he can ref big games, as with quite a few others, surely it's astonishing probability-wise that no refs support any of the usual top 6 teams (& generally highest supported)
Do I think he is a rag, probably.
Is there an FA conspiracy - Probably not, as whilst they are bent as most high level individuals at sporting institutions they are also clearly backward brown envelope grabbing old farts, and probably get their illicit cash from other deals
Is it SKYs fault - Nope, however anything that keeps the rag, dipper, Tarquins & spud fans tuning in is an ad revenue bonus, so beat up/downplay City as often as you can
Are refs incompetent - Absolutely, some are, high pressure job & many are not up to it
However.... Elephant in the room is betting. The betting industry is so heavily intertwined in football the chances of corruption are very high, so do I think that some refs are 'influenced' by betting markets, simple stuff such as time of first booking, red cards in a match, Chelsea not to lose at City?, U****d to score first etc...
High stakes odds in Far East markets on at first seemingly inconsequential and probable sections of games
Step forward - Taylor, East, Madeley, Mason, Oliver - incompetent or corrupt I know what I think. Brown envelopes all round methinks