How big a squad does a club like Arsenal need? And why is Man U so different?

By Tony Attwood Arsenal have a first team squad (according to the official Arsenal website) of 27 players. These are players who are clearly part of the elite group at the club – irrespective of their ages (which is why it is possible to have over the regulation 25). Now this squad is not the …

The phenomenal differences in the way refs treat each of the big six teams

by Tony Attwood In theory, referees don’t influence matches at all – it is the players’ actions that determine what decisions a referee has to make. But in effect referees do have to decide which tackle is a foul and which foul is worth a yellow card, and this is where big differences can be …