You keep stating Townsend is average like that's a fact. It isn't obviously. I know one Palace supporter. He's not upset to see Townsend gone and replaced by a 19 year old with no experience at this level. Take it for what you will.
I don't really put stock into how supporters rate players anyway. Passion leads to crazy things. People were saying two years ago that Bernard would be a useful player for any team in the league. Now he's not a useful player for any team in any reasonable league on the entire continent. He was always this bad but the passion for Everton allowed people to see it different.
I really don't understand either signing unless we're just completely out of money. And if we are I'm always going to side with the talented reclamation project over the washed up nothing player. It doesn't mean I like either.
Really if you want to know why I'm not into Townsend though the simple answer is Josh King. Not to be a prick but I was very right about Josh King.