Among the hundreds of posts that I have read since yesterday's game, I seem to recall one saying that "McArthur and Townsend clearly weren't fit." Was that just an opinion, or based on fact?

Thanks for clearing that up

I personally fear McArthur's finished, since an injury around Christmas 2015 he's been riddled with little injuries and when played has not looked the same player. The game that brought it home for me was Everton beating us just after Allardyce came in, McArthur was beaten to every ball to their young kid Davies. For a couple of years now we've been needing an understudy to McArthur who's there injecting energy into the team when McArthur's injured, now I think it's time to see us get a replacement, at the moment McArthur looks only decent as an option off the bench to see a game out with.

Hope I'm wrong, he does have 5 goals I think this season but in his advanced role he as not added any creativity. In that position we have needed more from him, he gives us the option of playing a more pressing game but he's not the kind of player that can unlock defenses with a pass.