What a year it’s been
After a rather vacant 2020, this year was when football picked up again and the content machine went into overdrive.
The Super League fiasco, an incredible Euro 2020, Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo going back to Manchester United, Jack Grealish and his calves going to Man City, Newcastle’s Saudi takeover, Barcelona being in financial ruin, and all the other mad shit I’ve forgotten about, gave us quite the year of tweets.
Here are some of our favourites. Yes, we’ve included a couple of ours. Sorry if we ignored one of your bangers. Drop them in the replies. Enjoy.
January
It wasn’t the easiest start to 2021 for anyone. A perfect visual representation of how we all entered the new year after the worst 365 day period of all time.
https://twitter.com/TiagoEstv/status/1347631267962089472
No explanation needed for this one.
https://twitter.com/chorleyfc/status/1347911844464381952?lang=en
Never under-estimate football Twitter’s ability to turn a threat to democracy into memes.
https://t.co/m8V4V3zAJh pic.twitter.com/2T1zAGYLGv
— Fisted Away (@fistedaway) January 6, 2021
Shout out to all the Cockburns out there. It can’t be an easy life.
My better half ordered me a personalised Christmas mug from the #NUFC club shop, and here is what they sent. #censorship pic.twitter.com/VU0n1RMaou
— Steve Cockburn (@stevecockburn) January 6, 2021
If you say so, Steve.
https://t.co/D77o51juUv pic.twitter.com/kIpn8KpPsX
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) January 29, 2021
February
Then there was the time we discovered Dermot Gallagher has been Anglicising his strong Dublin accent for a British TV audience, and we lost our collective mind.
Dermot Gallagher talking to Irish media / Dermot Gallagher talking to British media pic.twitter.com/AlFt5FPF8S
— Wayne Farry (@waynefarry) February 11, 2021
A timeless deconstruction of the banal punditry that curses our screens far too often.
the pundit who says ‘pockets of space’ but doesn’t know what it means pic.twitter.com/av3sORQCeo
— Michael Spicer (@MrMichaelSpicer) February 17, 2021
Still waiting on the original audio for this.
A lot of fans asked me to show Roy a funny video from TikTok and I wasn’t going to let you all down… I just can’t play you the real audio 🤣😡 pic.twitter.com/a4BbKH8UBo
— Micah Richards (@MicahRichards) February 7, 2021
Someone, please stop politicians from using footballing analogies.
https://t.co/5z7UvsLxWd pic.twitter.com/jHL36UzyVs
— Reubs (@ReubenPinder) February 21, 2021
Man's gonna ping me my food from 40 yards out pic.twitter.com/x8dJksZ2bR
— Jordan (@TheKFCKezman) February 23, 2021
March
That’s the real quiz.
FT: We may have lost, but two years ago our nation had 66 points more than England had in the Eurovision 2019, so now we’re even. #engSMR
— San Marino fan account (@SanMarino_FA) March 25, 2021
Ah, the José Mourinho era at Tottenham.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all as a Tottenham fan we lose to a side who’s manager was literally jailed
— Billie (@Billie_T) March 18, 2021
Hasn’t aged well, but a brilliant use of one of our headlines. Chapeau.
Havertz season highlights 20/21 pic.twitter.com/q54i6o4Di3
— J!🥤 (@JKnowsBall) March 4, 2021
All that’s missing is a never-ending chorus of boos.
Missing football so much I have turned my front room into Everton away pic.twitter.com/ALeKPPz3Qc
— PeterCFC ⭐️⭐️ (@PQCFC) March 12, 2021
The greatest match promotion tweet ever sent from a club account.
*PUMPING HYPE TWEET*
Bwaaaaaaaaaa
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/fpTf5S5CfT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 6, 2021
That time Christian Benteke used World Book Day to remind the world of the biggest smash and grab in recent history.
A best seller 😉 #WorldBookDay pic.twitter.com/ZEvfcBmLAm
— Christian Benteke (@chrisbenteke) March 4, 2021
April
THE SUPER LEAGUE TWEETS. Some absolute bangers in here.
If anyone asks, Arsenal won the Super League and Spurs came last pic.twitter.com/X6QbPvLWaD
— Paddy (@PaddyArsenal) April 20, 2021
i’m just glad gunnersaurus isn’t alive to see today
— Jonathan Nunn (@demarionunn) April 19, 2021
Fair play to Florentino Pérez. He said modern attention spans were getting shorter, looked at the 123-year-old Football League, realised that wouldn't do, and devised a competition that was done and dusted 48 hours after it began.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) April 20, 2021
#SuperLeague 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/aPvG28agWF
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) April 20, 2021
Have to hand it to backers of a Super League. Takes a lot to make "World Cup in Qatar" the 2nd worst idea ever in world football history. So there's that
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) April 18, 2021
I haven't seen Europe this United since they were dividing up Africa https://t.co/Rs6hws6zwV
— Zito (@_Zeets) April 19, 2021
'I never thought capitalism would eat MY football club,' sobs man who enjoys the Capitalism Eats Football
Clubs League.— Tom Usher (@tom_usher_) April 19, 2021
May
Maybe we should re-evaluate the way we analyse missed penalties.
miss a penalty by hitting it too hard: unlucky, you respected physics
miss a penalty by trying a panenka: disrespectful, our game is about pace
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) May 8, 2021
https://twitter.com/Reemzestilo/status/1392605878692495360
This one was particularly prophetic…
Future Barcelona strikers after Messi retires. https://t.co/4q13ikBNtu
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) May 8, 2021
Hope his head wasn’t too badly hurt after this.
Our gaffer.. 💙 pic.twitter.com/HWeftdpvEL
— Stevie may (@Stevie__may) May 22, 2021
Return of the King.
Gunnersaurus back at the Emirates. Nature is healing. pic.twitter.com/30IqJA1zJY
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) May 23, 2021
A true Premier League great departs.
Eternamente gracias! // Thank you eternally, Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/SmdkqyuvVd
— Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) May 23, 2021
Liverpool Alisson sent Twitter into a frenzy with his last minute winner against West Brom, but nothing quite topped this brilliant stat from Richard Jolly.
Alisson averages a goal every 127 games for Liverpool whereas Jamie Carragher averaged a goal every 184 games for Liverpool.
— Richard Jolly 🇺🇦 (@RichJolly) May 16, 2021
Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers lifting trophies on the same day feels like some kind of exorcism of 13/14.
— Grace Robertson 🏳️⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) May 15, 2021
The Turkish Süper Lig continuing to be batshit.
If you think you're having a bad day, Galatasaray just lost the Süper Lig title by a single goal pic.twitter.com/nUGekztfpv
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 15, 2021
June
The Euros kicked off in June, and there was no shortage of entertainment.
Who did it better? pic.twitter.com/d8AfB3Cl8T
— Brett Johns (@36Johns) June 12, 2021
Until the BBC suffered some technical issues during Turkey vs Wales.
Really enjoying BBC’s coverage of Turkey vs Wales pic.twitter.com/wAF9OmoykE
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) June 16, 2021
Scotland might have only scored one goal in their three group games, but at least they had this absolute banger as a soundtrack.
A HUGE cheer at Hampden as ‘I can boogie’ comes on – the sound of the chorus is amazing pic.twitter.com/tRvXqlwZN1
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 14, 2021
Holland once again proved to be a disappointment.
Netherlands My attempts at these tweets
at Euro 2020🤝
The spacing is all wrong.
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) June 13, 2021
Turkey being a complete flop in the tournament after everyone tipped them as dark horses was a particular highlight.
Everyone who predicted Turkey as dark horses pre-tournament pic.twitter.com/dbER4rLdhH
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) June 16, 2021
July
For many fair weather fans, the Tiny Football Car was the best bit of the tournament. And fair enough, it was very cool.
Can you believe they've let me back in?! 🥰 #EURO2020 #ENGDEN pic.twitter.com/HvOUsXjzxD
— Tiny Football Car & Tiny Buzz ⚡️ (@TinyFootballCar) July 7, 2021
Even God was getting involved when England conceded their first goal of the tournament to Denmark.
I’ll save the Queen, but Pickford has to save the ball. #ENGDEN #Euro2021
— God (@TheTweetOfGod) July 7, 2021
As England reached the final, Euros fever got a hold of all of us.
Me in the pub on Sunday singing sweet Caroline with the geezers pic.twitter.com/al8nib5oiS
— Thandie ✨✨ (@Thandietweetss) July 7, 2021
Never forget Tyrone Mings dunking on our awful Home Secretary.
You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens. https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2
— Tyrone Mings (@TyroneMings) July 12, 2021
August
Transfer silly season always kicks into gear in August.
https://twitter.com/_collinsville/status/1423345895207284743
https://twitter.com/EvanMcFarlane/status/1423343927399223304
Do you want the options again?
https://twitter.com/MatchoftheDave/status/1423594535494590464
City fans returning Grealish to Villa after hearing Messi wants to leave pic.twitter.com/bzVXLIy93H
— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) August 5, 2021
The footballing world was rocked by news of Messi leaving Barcelona, but few will have been more fearful than Ligue 1 defenders.
The Strasbourg centre-half watching Mbappe, Neymar and Messi running towards him pic.twitter.com/f4qre9Nqqw
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) August 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/greenaugustus12/status/1425101195518128135
When you see it…
https://twitter.com/DanielDPrescott/status/1426921281065213954
Kit launch of the year: Crystal Palace getting their oldest fan, 101-year-old Pam, to do the photoshoot for their home kit.
It's time.
Introducing the 2021/22 home kit 𝐟𝐭. 𝐍𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐦 ❤️💙
Pre-order now 👉 https://t.co/Piz0kwJMDf#CPFC | @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/HRWoAbu7jj
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 3, 2021
September
Simple but effective.
When you’re out and about and you spot your mate Sue https://t.co/a2QnCWUQKr
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) September 9, 2021
One regular day of CONMBEOL. All I ask for. Will never happen.
Crazy scenes in Sao Paolo, Argentina-Brazil World Cup qualifier thrown into chaos as Brazilian COVID officials and police stop the game due to four Argentinian (UK based) players lying on their travel forms and breaking Brazil’s quarantine rules pic.twitter.com/rnIkpuKXJC
— Tommy Rooney (@TomasORuanaidh) September 5, 2021
It was always going to be Burnley to do this, wasn’t it?
🚨 1-11 shirt numbers! 🚨 https://t.co/Hbqcb7VEh3
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) August 21, 2021
Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford saw everyone fly off the hinges a bit…
As Ronaldo walked down the tunnel after his match-winning performance, the sound of Fatboy Slim serenaded him from the loud speaker system – We've come a long long way together, through the hard times and the good, I have to celebrate you baby, I have to praise you like I should
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) September 11, 2021
An underrated Twitter moment: Patrick van Aanholt calling Mateo Guendouzi ‘likkleman.’
https://twitter.com/pvanaanholt/status/1443704333774770181
Still wish we could have seen Graeme Souness’ reaction to his.
Paul Pogba joins @burnaboy on stage at Parklife after beating Newcastle 4-1 🎶
via @emshammmpic.twitter.com/q3Ij9zpGJS
— utdreport (@utdreport) September 11, 2021
Do this with the West Brom boiler https://t.co/xeSoul435A
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) September 12, 2021
October
Long after Frank Lampard’s departure from Derby, Leeds fans continued to mock his reaction to spy-gate.
— EAMO (@EamoV1) October 19, 2021
*Chef kiss*
His Excellency watching Their Utter Mediocrity. pic.twitter.com/ZY0sil9pcl
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) October 17, 2021
When Rob McElhenney realised just what he’d got himself in for as his players mopped the pitch dry.
I’m watching our PLAYERS MOP THE FIELD to continue the game. I’ve never seen anything like it. Official statement from the Co-chairman: “We need to get out of this fucking league.” @Wrexham_AFC pic.twitter.com/c0R6PADYKu
— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) October 2, 2021
November
Any excuse to show you this again.
Don’t worry, Ole. No matter the result, you’ll always have your friends…
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 20, 2021
Solskjaer’s sacking feels like longer than six weeks ago, doesn’t it?
Solskjaer would have been sacked three times by Watford during this half alone.
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) November 20, 2021
DNA DNA DNA DNA DNA pic.twitter.com/jt6DmXz5fM
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) November 20, 2021
Sure he was smiling on the inside…
Lauren James finally makes her Chelsea debut. Big brother Reece is there to see it and can’t hide his delight 😂 pic.twitter.com/lMHSPHTctk
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 19, 2021
December
The managerial merry-go-round was in full swing as Lampard was linked to every bottom half job available, but decided none of them were quite right for him.
Dodged a bullet there! Haha no but seriously Norwich are fucked pic.twitter.com/ucIcIcBa8l
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 12, 2021
Leeds’ injury crisis saw them turn to a literal 15-year-old to fill a space on the bench.
In a way, I hope that 15-year-old doesn't come off the bench for Leeds, because – as football tradition strictly dictates – that would mean he has to have a school exam tomorrow
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) December 18, 2021
Perfect.
https://twitter.com/TamsellicsonIII/status/1472715996943241221
Oh yeah, and the Champions League draw had to be re-done due to a mistake. Thankfully for Chelsea, they still ended up with Lille, and made the most of a great opportunity on social media.
✏️#UCLDraw pic.twitter.com/CSd7SseWgv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 13, 2021
This clip took the world by storm in late December, but the numbers would dictate she should have passed.
0.01(xG) https://t.co/FzZ7Bgxqu3
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) December 24, 2021
Be more creative with the presents, fellas.
When you and your brother-in-law have got each other the same FCUK gift set pic.twitter.com/nqdBUyrHvw
— Matthew Stanger (@MatthewStanger) December 25, 2021
And the year signed off with John Terry getting really into NFTs of sad looking apes. No, we don’t get it either. This was very funny though.
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) December 26, 2021
Happy New Year, folks. Here’s to another year of great tweets.