Everyone seems to have forgotten that Phil only played on four tracks because he wasn't in the band when the rest was recorded - and it's already been openly stated that should another album be on the cards he'd be playing on it as much as possible and he and Jon have spoken about writing together, so the talk of getting in a new guitarist to record and write is a bit redundant if we're happy with Phil's work so far...

As far as Shanks goes I'm in agreement though, when albums are, relative to their predecessors, tanking you don't stick to the formula.