This kind of opinion always intrigues me. Do you actually think it's a case of him actively looking to avoid the ball over him just having a s*** footballing brain (as evidenced by the insane levels of thick as pigshit needless fouls he'd commit mentioned by toon25 above)?
Just find it a hard thing to believe that someone could become/remain a Premier League footballer with the mindset of actively avoiding the ball being a full-on trait.
Please don't take this as any kind of defence of the disgusting little scrotum btw. More a broad thought I've had before that cropped up in my mind again from your post.
It is hard to believe but I do genuinely believe he actively looked to avoid the ball. He would always call for the ball when he knew he was man marked and stay quiet when he was actually in space.
I think he was aware of his limitations but had to be seen to be doing something, so adopted that as a strategy.
I know nothing about his character or him as a person, but from a football perspective I'm glad he is no longer a part of the team.
He loved a sideways pass and a needless foul on the touchline that presented a great crossing opportunity in the last 10 mins.