When Crystal Palace signed then-24-year-old Andros Townsend in the summer of 2016 for £13m, he was at a difficult stage in his career.
The winger had burst onto the scene for Tottenham, and England, a few seasons prior, and was starting to establish himself as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League. A good dribbler, with a lethal shot, fans were starting to jump on the Townsend bandwagon.
But under Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, Townsend didn’t seem to make the grade, which saw him leave for Newcastle in January 2016 to try and revive his career. He saw more game time at St James’ Park, and started to impress again, but the move to Selhurst Park clearly seemed like the right step in order to work his way back into the England team.
However, fans were quick to write of his England chances under Alan Pardew for The Eagles. While the fans were happy with the signing, they were wary of the manager’s destructive qualities and the way it would affect Townsend’s career.
This is what the fans had to say:
https://twitter.com/ElliottLeybourn/status/748806700606468096
Enjoy playing left back under Pardew Andros! Look at what he did to Ben Arfa and look where he is now!! #psg #unloyal
— Gary Smith (@geordiegaz83) 1 July 2016
hope he gets pardewed
— Gavin Verwey (@gavinverwey) 1 July 2016
@premierleague @andros_townsend prepare to be pardew’d and to play at RB, All the best Andros. #nufc
— Ad Hill (@A_J_Hill83) 1 July 2016
Pardewed by Christmas
— David Moat (@DavidMoat) 1 July 2016
he’ll never play for england ever again now hope he knows
— Benj (@Beniesta_) 1 July 2016
On the other hand, these fans were very happy.
very happy with this
— Terry (@Terry_Fowler) 1 July 2016
@danielps10 @andros_townsend Great player, and very underrated
— King Nurk (@kingnurk) 1 July 2016
really good signing
— Nathan Daniels (@NathDaniels10) 1 July 2016
great news, welcome Andros.
— Al Bowles (@southfieldsCP) 1 July 2016
Two and a half years on and the 27-year-old has been good, if unspectacular for The Eagles.
While he has become a mainstay in the Palace team, creating a deadly partnership with Wilfried Zaha, his England days have looked numbered, as he has widely been regarded as a fleeting ‘next big thing’.
