An interesting post Dave. FdB does have everything to prove in the PL, and if he gets it wrong we will certainly be in deep trouble (again)! So far as I can gather the person who wanted a change in playing style was Parish. Perhaps he had had enough of being deep in the doo do every year and wanted to try something different? Defensively, the squad does seem to have strengthened considerably since the January transfer window with Luka PVA etc coming in? Also the average age of the squad does need to come down given the nuimber of players in their late 20's and 30's. So I think FdB with Parish's backing is moving in the right direction. If 'rumours' are anything to go by, we are looking at further strengthening the defence through players like Chambers (although the rumour mill is remarkably inactive at the moment.) I am assuming there will be a flurry of additional transfer activity between now and the start of the season. IF a couple of additional good defensive players do come in, then personally I think we are in a reasonably solid position to do OK (ie above the bottom 5)

An interesting post Dave. FdB does have everything to prove in the PL, and if he gets it wrong we will certainly be in deep trouble (again)! So far as I can gather the person who wanted a change in playing style was Parish. Perhaps he had had enough of being deep in the doo do every year and wanted to try something different? Defensively, the squad does seem to have strengthened considerably since the January transfer window with Luka PVA etc coming in? Also the average age of the squad does need to come down given the nuimber of players in their late 20's and 30's. So I think FdB with Parish's backing is moving in the right direction. If 'rumours' are anything to go by, we are looking at further strengthening the defence through players like Chambers (although the rumour mill is remarkably inactive at the moment.) I am assuming there will be a flurry of additional transfer activity between now and the start of the season. IF a couple of additional good defensive players do come in, then personally I think we are in a reasonably solid position to do OK (ie above the bottom 5)

We don't know if he;s been offered a deal or not.

He was our highest scoring midfield player at the point he was injured, third highest scorer for the season, made loads of tackles, blocks and clearances.

His stats are in and around the same as Cabaye's, but with slightly fewer games/minutes (3 games /125min diff.). McArthur has one more goal, equal on assists, McArthur has one more block, Cabaye edges it on pass completion rate (by 81% to 78%), but McArthur edges clearances (27 to 23). Cabaye wins hands down on Key Passes but, also made 2 errors leading to goals, whereas McArthur made zero. As for tackles, McArthur wins there over Cabaye too having won more and lost less.

Essentially if "but neither an excellent defensive mid or a great attacking mid" applies to McArthur, it also applies to Cabaye.

We have two CM places, we need four players of the Cabaye/McArthur quality or above. We have that at Milivojevic, Puncheon, McArthur and Cabaye. Unless we're bringing in someone better or we've had an offer and they want to go, we should keep and extend contracts where necessary.

maybe we just do not have enough cash for a back up benteke and a RWB. maybe we are on the verge of spending millions on those two positions and the only player being bid for is McArthur and for a good sum too, if those conditions are being currently met then I cant blame the club for contemplating selling McArthur. Who knows, FdB also may know of a good quality CM from abroad we may get for pittance to make this potential void dealable.

He may just be a sale we have to do

Yeah fair enough, there are a number of conditions or situations that selling McArthur would be the right thing to do, but it would also apply to Cabaye if the offer was for him.

In a slightly unrelated point, if Punch contributed goals, purely based on stats, he and Milivojevic would be far and away our best CM combo (assuming Milivojevic were to average out the whole season). It's actually quite alarming, the only thing missing to Punch is his lack of goals. Lets hope he score early this season, get loads of confidence and uses it as a spring board for the season.