EPL Twitter team shows human obsession with failure

If social media were a barometer for team selection, it’s clear plenty of the most disappointing players would make the cut.

Radamel Falcao, Manchester United

Radamel Falcao of Manchester United wouldn't make many dream teams after the season he's had in the Premier League (AP) Source: AP

Twitter this week announced its English Premier League "team of the season", based on mentions, and some of the names on the teamsheet were among the most underwhelming participants for their respective teams.

It's seems clear you're talked about more when you're bad than when you're good. We humans are critical animals.

Up front this is particularly true, with Mario Balotelli (Liverpool) and Radamel Falcao (Manchester United) earning spots despite dismally failing to live up to the hype that came with their arrivals to the competition at the season’s beginning.

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, oft criticised for his performances for the Gunners, also gets into a midfield that includes Joey Barton, relegated with Queens Park Rangers and promptly let go by club not long after. Team-mate Rio Ferdinand, also dumped by QPR, also features at the heart of defence.

There are some star performers, though, with Cesc Fabregas, a key cog in Chelsea’s championship-winning machine, one of the better-performed selected players in the Twitter team.

Despite scoring for fun, there was no place for golden boot winner Sergio Aguero of Manchester City nor Tottenham Hotspur sensation Harry Kane. Chelsea’s Diego Costa also missed out.
Twitter EPl Team 2014-2015
Twitter picked its team based on the most talked about teams, players, games and coaches, making it clear that players struggling for form are far more likely to be talked about than those who are playing well.

The social media company also ranked the teams in an alternate table, with Manchester United finishing on top, no doubt not only as a result of poor performances, but also its giant global fanbase.

QPR also avoids the drop and finish mid-table whereas Stoke City, a consistent unit throughout season 2014/2015, joins Hull City and Burnley in the dropzone. The poor Potters were dead last on mentions. Clearly their fans need to get more involved on social, or are just too satisfied to care.
Twitter EPL Table 2014-2015
The three most Tweeted moments from the season were also picked out. These are included Juan Mata’s acrobatic bicycle kick for Manchester United against Liverpool at Anfield in March, team-mate Robin van Persie’s last-minute equaliser against Chelsea at Old Trafford last October, and Dider Drogba’s opening goal for the Blues in the same match.

Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s outspoken and charismatic boss, was the league’s most mentioned manager throughout the season. He’s getting used to finishing ahead of Louis van Gaal, Arsene Wenger and Brendan Rodgers, so would not be too surprised. Alan Pardew, who took over at Mile Jedinak’s crisis-hit Crystal Palace late in 2014, finished sixth on that table after guiding the Eagles to its best ever Premier League finish of 10th.

Perhaps most surprising of all was the prize for most followed Premier League team, at the time of writing. Arsenal takes out this title with close to six million followers, ahead of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.


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3 min read
Published 29 May 2015 4:04pm
By Toby Forage
Source: SBS

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