The Phil Costa segment is interesting.
Here are his sell and buy scenarios.
Assumes 130 is the net rev # and pick up 76 from sales for total of 206.

His comments about Florian Wirrz are interesting too. His signing appears to be a massive contract battle between Real Madrid, B Munich and City

Ive got some issues with his suggested spend.....

Ekitike - Im not sure we've ever been linked. By the historical numbers he is raw. Hard time seeing us going after anyone but Sesko unless he straight up rejects us.
Wharton - I like the kid but (a) Arteta wants Zubimendi and (b) I feel like Palace will want more than 50 to let him go
Garcia - I know we've been linked but where is the value in spending 25m on someone that likely gets 10 matches max? Go get a vet FA and develop the 3-4 u21s we signed in the last year.

What about Zubimendi?

I listened to the podcast and this wasn't so much a hard prediction as much as a fun game of conjecture/possiblities..

They admitted that Zubimendi was coming in over Wharton, and likely Sesko over Etitike. But since those players had already been discussed exhaustively, he threw some other names out so they could discuss some possible new options.

He was being straight forward on his outgoing predictions though.

I've been thinking alot about the "what do we do with Nwaneri discussion" and I think I have a solid option.....

Arteta has tweaked our formation/tactics atleast a little every season since he has been in charge. We've played a 3-4-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 with traditional FBs, 4-3-3 with 1 inverted FB and now 4-3-3 with kind of hybrid FBs. An idea I had would involve another formation/tactical change. While it may be unlikely that we shift back to a 3-man back line, I think it could be worthwhile to mimic Leverkusen where Xabi Alonso teaches the same types of spacing principals as Arteta but with a different setup.....

------------ Havertz ------------
--- Nwaneri -------- MO -----
MLS - Merino - Rice - Saka
---- Gabi - Saliba - White ---
------------- Raya ---------------

Above is current roster with everyone healthy.

Move to a 3 man back line. All of the defenders that are expected to stay, except MLS are naturally capable CBs and many of them have played in a 3 back setup previously. Gabi, Saliba, White & Cala become your primary rotation. Timber can play on the outside or can be shifted to DM/CM or play as a defensive WB. Tomi (if ever healthy) can play all 3 spots and Kiwior likely still gets sold and is replaced by someone young.

Rice in a double pivot is a much more natural role for him and finding quality players for a double is easier than a single pivot. You can still bring Zubimendi and use he, Rice & Merino as your primary rotation. MLS would be a very strong option for LWB or one of the DM/CM spots. I pulled Saka back to RWB because (a) he is already a strong wide defender and (b) WBs are heavily involved in the offense in this setup with (c) Grimaldo (LWB) being the leader for G+A for Leverkusen last season and both WBs being top 5 both this season and last. Could add Timber to this group as a more defensive option for both sides and would likely need atleast 1 guy added for depth..

For the AMs you have MO & Nwaneri. Could probably play Trossard in that role as well as Havertz if/when a new ST is brought in. Chances are you would need to bring in atleast 1 guy for depth.

The only player that we currently expect to stay that I have a hard time fitting into a role for this formation is Martinelli. While he is decent at tracking back, I don't see him being a legit option at WB. I also don't see him being creative enough for the AM role. Think he would either have to moved to ST or be sold.

Damn. Ended up with PSV which puts us on the tougher side of the bracket

PSV is better than Feyenoord. And no Van Persie reunion. Oh well

wangus12 said:

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Damn. Ended up with PSV which puts us on the tougher side of the bracket

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And Liverpool got PSG...it's almost like its rigged