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For a good many years, right up until recently the early rounds of the EFL Cup would always be accompanied with an article or two detailing how to save the tournament. These suggestions varied from making it a competition involving only British players – to gain them some game-time and experience – to granting Champions League qualification to the winner. Occasionally the tone shifted from benevolence to outright doom and gloom such as this write-up in the Telegraph from 2017 insisting the unloved mongrel should be put out of its misery.

These past couple of seasons however the hand-wringing appears to have stopped and the reasons for this are multifaceted.

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First and foremost – and the most abstract of all the explanations for an apparent resurgence of affection for a tournament often considered the least important to compete for – is the undeniable truth that we just can’t get enough top level football these days. With the introduction of Friday night Premier League fare it is now possible to watch big, consequential games seven days running should you wish while an international break feels like a sprawling abyss that induces separation anxiety. This week Arsenal head to Anfield while Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge and the plot-lines from the Premier League bleed into these EFL Cup 4th round fixtures and make them unmissable. Without these box-office games it would merely be a drab Wednesday evening spent bickering to each other on Twitter over the warmed-up left-over controversies of the weekend. No thanks.

The FA’s decision to ‘stagger’ entry into the tournament for the bigger clubs has also had a hugely beneficial effect. Where once top flight managers selected what were essentially youth sides to take on League Two underdogs in an early round now they are just a few steps from Wembley and a shot at glory in the spring sunshine. (Incidentally, another major plus for the tournament is that it’s all wrapped up by February clearing the decks for its more meaningful peers).

Does anybody think Jurgen Klopp or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will play significantly weakened teams this coming week? Yet it’s the fourth round of a supposedly irrelevant competition.

We mastered the trick in the video below in 8 attempts… could you do better?

All of this however would amount to little if the games were poor in quality. It’s a blessing then to see that is anything but the case.

Across the second round this season there was an average of 4.6 goals per game, a huge hike on the norm. In the last round we were treated to a 7-1 and Oxford battering West Ham 4-0, not to mention the comical, social-media-trending sight of Manchester United being taken to penalties by Rochdale. Indeed, assessing the matches across the last two campaigns reveals a cornucopia of open football played with a freedom that comes from viewing progress as singularly an extremely welcome bonus. Lose as it’s no disaster. Win and Wembley still shimmers in the distance.

For years the EFL Cup was talked down because people expected it to be more important than it really was but now – for any number of reasons – we’re seeing it for what it actually is. And it’s all the stronger and better loved for that.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

Everton have fallen into the relegation zone after their fifth defeat of the Premier League season left them on seven points after eight games, with many questions asked of some big-name players, such as Morgan Schneiderlin.

The Frenchman played just 14 times in the Premier League for the Toffees last season and has failed to stamp his name on Everton’s midfield since joining the club in 2017. That said, due to the injuries to Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, the former Manchester United man has been forced into the midfield, playing in six of the eight league games so far.

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Against Burnley, however, the £24m Schneiderlin was once again poor and further justified the importance of Gbamin’s return from injury. In the last two games prior to the Turf Moor trip, the midfielder scored a 4/10 from the Liverpool Echo in the defeat to Sheffield United and a 5/10 for his display against Manchester City, and against Burnley, he registered another 4/10.

During the fixture over the weekend, Schneiderlin failed to make a tackle and instead made three fouls, whilst he made one error which led to an attempt on goal for Burnley.

Going forward, the 29-year-old failed to dribble past a single player and could not get a shot away on the opposition. In fact, throughout the last three games, the ex-Southampton man has not offered much both in defence and in the Everton attack and is fortunate to still be in the starting XI.

However, Gbamin was spotted training at Finch Farm prior to the weekend’s action, and his return from injury is a very timely one given his teammate’s poor displays.

Over the last two seasons at Mainz, the Ivory Coast international averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.70 and 7.04, whilst completing on average 1.6 and 2.6 tackles 2018-19 and 2017-18 respectively.

There is also the return of Andre Gomes, who entered the fray on the 84th minute against Burnley. But with Gbamin’s physicality and proven defensive qualities, his return to the squad in replace of Schneiderlin can’t come quick enough.

A number of Liverpool fans seemingly have mixed opinions on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the midfielder looks to reinvent himself as a player following a serious knee injury which robbed him of a lot of football.

It was always going to be tough for the Englishman – a 2017 arrival from Arsenal – to work his way back to full fitness.

And despite being involved in eight games for the Reds this season, he has failed to contribute a goal or an assist.

The 26-year-old has not completed the full 90 minutes of a game for Jurgen Klopp’s side this term, whilst he has played just one minute of league football for the club since the middle of September.

There are some Liverpool fans who appear to still be behind Oxlade-Chamberlain, although a number of others are a lot less patient as they want much more from the former Southampton youngster.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Lionel Messi is someone every single football fan in the world knows about. And it’s pretty safe to say that whether you’re a Barcelona fan or not, Messi is someone you’re very much familiar with.

But the Argentine wizard, as brilliant and unreal as he still may be, is now slowly but surely making the first strides into his 30s and while he’s certainly an immortal in the context of footballing history, he won’t be able to score goals for Barcelona perennially.

One Messi who’s not as popular, however, is one of his sons, Mateo, who just turned four years old the other day.

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Young Messi is, fortunately, a fan of football and his mother posted video footage of him scoring some goals in what seemed to be the family’s backyard.

Needless to say, many Barcelona fans were quick to jump to Twitter and gush all over that footage, calling the young kid the “next goat” and even saying he might go on to be “better than Messi” himself.

Of course, many were joking but they will seriously hope young Mateo becomes the next big thing in the future.

Take a look at some of their replies down below:

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Roy Hodgson and co were so close to being able to enjoy the rest of their weekend against Wolves on Sunday.

The Selhurst Park outfit went 1-0 up against the Midlands club thanks to an own goal from Leander Dendoncker following Joel Ward’s effort. But then, despite Romain Saiss’ red card, Palace’s opponents drew level thanks to a late, late strike from Diogo Jota.

The point sees them stay in 12th place in the Premier League table, but a victory would have seen them move into the top six.

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The club’s supporters will feel hard done by, and they may have seen something their manager didn’t in terms of his team selection. The omission of Victor Camarasa was a cause for concern. Since signing for the Eagles on loan from Real Betis, the 25 year-old has made just two appearances, and is yet to start a Premier League game for his new club.

The supporters have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

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Leeds United were set to sign Swansea winger Daniel James until the final minutes of deadline day, but attentions are now turning to Burnley’s Aaron Lennon per The Sun.

What’s the word?

James had been identified as Marcelo Bielsa’s top January target from an early stage, but negotiations between Leeds and Swansea proved difficult for much of the month.

It was not until last Thursday’s deadline day that an agreement seemed to be reached. The winger held his medical early in the day, only for the Welsh outfit to pull the plug on a £1.5million loan with an obligation to buy should United secure promotion to the Premier League.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Rather than returning to the Swans star in the summer, though, The Sun are suggesting that Bielsa is looking to tempt Lennon into a homecoming.

Lennon began his career at Elland Road after emerging from United’s youth ranks, and is out of contract at Turf Moor at the end of next season. It would not have made sense to target the 31-year-old in January, as the former England international is currently sidelined with a potentially season-ending knee injury.

Who should Bielsa target?

Depending on James’ performances for the remainder of the season, Bielsa opting to favour the 31-year-old winger instead may prove to be the correct decision – although there is no explicit suggestion that Leeds won’t try to sign both.

The current roster at Elland Road does not boast a great deal of top-flight experience, whereas Lennon has been a regular feature in the Premier League for more than a decade and has recorded 67 appearances in the Champions League and Europa League combined.

The £4.5million rated winger has also shown that he still has a lot to offer any side in England’s top division since moving to Burnley.

James, on the other hand, has only managed 18 appearances in the Championship with the current campaign his breakthrough season.

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Leeds have been given some good news on the injury front following Marcelo Bielsa’s pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with Barnsley.

The Argentine revealed that Tyler Roberts was now back in contention whilst Luke Ayling was healthy.

Ayling has been out after having to undergo ankle surgery whilst Roberts had fluid drained from his knee which caused him to miss the opening month of the season.

Certain Leeds fans were understandably delighted with the news as one hailed it as brilliant. A further individual stated that Roberts was the Whites’ most underrated player.

Another fan explained how they’d been looking forward to seeing the 20-year-old play again. One said he could challenge Mateusz Klich for a place.

Roberts contributed to eight goals in the Championship last season by way of finding the net himself and laying on strikes for his teammates.

Adam Forshaw has since stepped into his role alongside Klich whilst Stuart Dallas has just recently signed a new deal after stepping up at right-back in place of Ayling.

Here’s the best of the reaction from various sources on Twitter.

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Manchester United have seemingly leapfrogged Aston Villa in the race to sign Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.

That’s according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, and, as to be expected, a number of United fans have been reacting to the update on social media.

Kamara appears to be a player in demand, with the holding midfielder’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old is on Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa wishlist, with United, Villa and Leeds all talking to the player’s agent ahead of a possible £10m transfer.

And now, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, United have overtaken all competitors when it comes to Kamara and are leading the race to secure his services.

United fans react

@utdreport relayed the update regarding Kamara on Twitter via GIFN (Get Italian Football News). This is what these United supporters had to say in reply, with many hoping to see a move materialise in the final days of the January window.

“We’re alive”

Credit: @BigTeezo

“Never heard of GIFN but let’s go”

Credit: @utd_victor_

“PLEASEEEE”

Credit: @hhhhmmmm_

“I hope this is true”

Credit: @I_am_lakes

“Definitely a better option defensively when compared to Zakaria.”

Credit: @TheUnitedLink

“SIGN HIM PLS IMMEDIATELY PLS”

Credit: @kurtbuckerfield

In other news: ‘Finished’ – Many MUFC fans react as Spurs make move for ‘amazing’ ace. 

According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing yet another upgrade for their academy crop as news emerges on promising midfielder Leo Black.

The Lowdown: N17 youth prospering…

There has been no shortage of very exciting starlets coming through the ranks at N17 over past seasons, perhaps most notably and recently the likes of Oliver Skipp, Dane Scarlett and Troy Parrott.

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That being said, Tottenham are apparently always on the lookout for talents outside of Hotspur Way who they can then bring into the set up and nurture into future stars.

England youth internationals are allegedly in high-demand at Spurs, like winger Samuel Amo-Ameyaw for instance, who has also received a scholarship contract from the club amid comparisons to Jadon Sancho (Football Insider).

Now, as per FI, it appears Tottenham have set their sights on yet another rising star.

The Latest: Spurs submit Black offer…

According to the outlet, Spurs have now submitted a two-year scholarship contract offer for England Under-16 midfielder Black.

It is also believed that Tottenham want a deal done ‘in the coming weeks’ as they seek to add yet more top talents for their academy ahead of this summer.

The Verdict: Exciting times at youth level…

Given Spurs’ moves being made behind-the-scenes for some of England’s most promising emerging talents, Lilywhites supporters may want to keep an eye out for yet more prospects breaking through in the next couple of seasons.

It remains to be seen which name will follow in the footsteps of Scarlett, Skipp and Parrott, but it will certainly be one to keep an eye on as Spurs also plan for the future.

In other news: Conte now eyeing £25.2 million-rated ‘game-changer’ who Spurs once agreed personal terms for, find out more here.

Crystal Palace have been enjoying a great run of form, picking up points in 13 of their last 20 games, putting them in 11th, just outside of the top half of the table.

With Patrick Vieira steering the club in the right direction he now goes into his second transfer window, and there is already an incoming and an outgoing transfer rumoured.

What’s the word?

Journalist, Robin Bairner, has confirmed that Jean-Philippe Mateta will be leaving Crystal Palace this January in a recall to Mainz and then a loan move to Saint Etienne.

Bairner Tweeted:

“Jean-Philippe Mateta is set have his Crystal Palace loan terminated and will instead join Saint-Etienne.”

“Le Progres reports that Mainz (who own him), Palace and Sainté have come to an agreement over the striker.”

According to the report from Le Progres, the £30k-per-week flop is set to commit to a loan deal with the Ligue 1 side imminently, after falling out of favour at Palace.

Replacement ready to sign for Palace

Mateta has only featured in two starting line-ups in the Premier League this season, and has clearly fallen out of favour at the club, so Vieira would likely be relieved to get the centre forward off the books to make way for a much more reliable goal-scorer in Eddie Nketiah.

The £9m-rated Arsenal star who was hailed “electric” by former Leeds United player Tony Dorigo, has been heavily linked with a move to Palace in January, and he seems like he would be the perfect fit for the club when you compare him to the signings Vieira has already made.

The French manager signed two young attacking players in midfielder Conor Gallagher, and forward Odsonne Edouard in the summer, with both enjoying success in the side, and it would make sense for Nketiah to join the pair at Selhurst Park as he fits the same profile, as a promising offensive player.

Despite not being given too many chances to shine in the top-flight, with just three appearances so far this season, the striker has showcased his talents representing Arsenal in the three EFL Cup games he has played in, where he has scored five goals already, helping the Gunners to secure a spot in the semi-final.

The Eagles will be hoping to continue to pick up points in the second half of the season, and adding a prolific goal-scorer could help the side gain more wins to gain a top half finish at the end of the campaign, which would be an incredible achievement for Vieira in his first term.

In other news: Vieira could make first mistake with Aaron Ramsey signing