Slaven Bilic's job still rests on the result at Crystal Palace... and do not underestimate the importance of the weight of a ball - TACKLE KEOWN

  • Martin Keown answered YOUR questions in this week's Tackle Keown
  • On the agenda were West Ham's comeback at Tottenham, David Unsworth's case for the Everton job and Pep Guardiola's bizarre excuse for drawing a blank
  • There is a full fixture of Premier League action coming up this weekend 

Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown answered your questions as we looked back over the week's Carabao Cup fixtures and ahead to this week's Premier League action.

Among the items on the agenda this week were West Ham's comeback at Tottenham and the managerial situations at Everton and Leicester.

Scroll down below to read back through Martin's answers to your questions.


  • Martin Keown

    Host commentator

13:25
That's a wrap...

That's all from Tackle Keown for this week.

Be sure to join us at the same time next week for more from Martin.

Thanks for reading.

13:22
What are your expectations for Tottenham’s trip to Old Trafford on Saturday? Nick in Southend

I just hope that Jose Mourinho lets his team play!

He pulled up the handbrake at Anfield and United seemed unable to get back into gear at Huddersfield.

In any other country you feel Jose would be top of the league right now but with Manchester City you cannot rest on your laurels.

Both Mourinho and Pochettino are striving for perfection and to compete with Guardiola that’s what you need.

With this match at Old Trafford, the onus will be on United to play expansively and openly — not least from the fans.

If this happens, it could be the best game of the season so far.

Jose Mourinho must decided whether to stick or twist against Spurs on Saturday
13:14
How big an impact will last night’s capitulation have on Tottenham? Paul in north London

Are these Tottenham players ever going to feel the joy of winning a trophy? 

It is a fallacy that the big teams do not care about the League Cup. You have to go back to 2013 to find the last time a team outside the top six sides won the competition.

To exit the competition in this manner is an embarrassment. It will have not been a good morning at the training ground today.

Tottenham’s remit this year must have been win a trophy. Obviously the League Cup is behind the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup on your list of priorities but it is silverware nonetheless.

Last night Tottenham blew a good opportunity and their training ground will not be a happy place today.

Mauricio Pochettino looks dejected during Spurs' second-half capitulation against West Ham
13:05
Was Pep Guardiola ‘talking balls’ about the Mitre ball used in the League Cup? Alex in London

Do not underestimate how important the weight and pressure of the ball can be. 

At the start of my career, the balls were as hard as cement. By the late Nineties, Mitre had developed the perfect ball but then Nike suddenly took over producing the balls for the Premier League. 

At first, those balls were like playing with a balloon. A game would start and straight away I would be saying to the ref that there was not enough air in the ball. 

Our kit man would have to put more air in to make the balls harder. Now, Nike have perfected their balls to probably a greater extent than Mitre managed back then. 

There were no complaints with the Mitre ball in any of the other League Cup ties. City were able to train with the ball before the Wolves game.

Before a game, the home-team kit man will prepare the balls and the referee will approve them. As the home team, did no one at City ask whether the balls were prepared properly?

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was not happy with the Mitre ball use in the cup
12:55
Is Claude Puel a good appointment for Leicester? Ben in Southampton

Going into the game against West Brom last week, I wondered whether Southampton fans wished they could have turned the clock back and swapped Pellegrino for Puel.

Southampton finished eighth and reached the final of the League Cup which they were desperately unlucky to lose.

Has there been any real improvement under Pellegrino?

I see similarities between Puel and Wenger, who he played for at Monaco. Where Puel differs is that he lacks Wenger’s charisma.

Puel goes back to St Mary’s with Leicester on December 13. Let’s see which team are in better shape then.

Former Southampton manager Claude Puel has been appointed Leicester boss
12:48
Who should replace Ronald Koeman at Everton? Mark in Bradford

I am hearing that David Unsworth has been given assurances that he has has some time in the hotseat.

Against Chelsea last night, he understood the strengths and weaknesses of Everton’s squad and there was a definite improvement.

Lennon and Mirallas played well, while Lookman showed great skill and hit the bar after he came on.

There is still a concern playing Rooney down the middle. I would be working with him more than any player this week. He needs to stay higher up the pitch and Everton must get bodies closer to him.

Unsworth is a good choice for the short-term but Everton have to weigh up if he has the experience to take the job permanently.

But even if he doesn’t get the job, he should be working with the first team at Goodison Park.

David Unsworth applauds the Everton fans after Sunday night's defeat by Chelsea
12:42
Why are we not seeing more English youngsters in the Premier League despite their successes on the international stage?

The success of our young players in an England shirt is making it more and more difficult for managers to deny them chances.

We should be buzzing about this as a country. If it was Brazil doing so well at all these tournaments, we would be raving about their wealth of talent.

It seems at youth level the players are happier playing for England than their clubs when with the seniors it is the opposite!

Do we make too much of the step-up from youth level to the first team?

I got my chance to play for the Arsenal senior team at 19 and did not know what all the fuss was about. For me, it was just another game.

The biggest difference is that more people are watching but the earlier in your career you get to handle that, the better.

If you keep a player waiting and waiting for their chance, the whole thing turns into a drama.

Mauricio Pochettino loves the enthusiasm of his English players. They have great ability and dynamism. He knows that training sessions will be at the intensity he wants because the English players have the right desire.

The England Under 17 players have incredible hunger and desire. We now have to put them on a pathway to the first team.

Rhian Brewster (No 9) and Phil Foden (No 7) are two stars of England's Under 17 team
12:36
Are teams disrespecting the Carabao Cup by making so many changes? Barry in Didsbury

Managers are taking the competition seriously by using it as a chance for their young talent.

Arsene Wenger has blooded 85 players in this tournament and it gives supporters a chance to get a glimpse of their club’s prospects.

Jack Wilshere, Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas were among those who took their first steps in the League Cup.

Arsene Wenger took Eddie Nketiah on his pre-season tour to Asia. Anyone who goes on those tours is a player Wenger is prepared to invest time in and he will not do that lightly.

These ‘secondary’ competitions then provide the perfect platform for players like Nketiah to show what they are made of in the first team.

As a senior player, these are not always the competitions you want to be playing in but it is important to give your all in these games.

You are giving something back to those younger players who are making their debuts.

I was critical of Fabregas last night who did not seem too happy at having to play the last half-hour against Everton.

Eventually he applied himself — but Fabregas had clearly forgotten that this was the competition that gave him his big break in 2003!

Cesc Fabregas (left) made his Arsenal debut in the League Cup back in 2003
12:30
Has Slaven Bilic saved his job? Ben in Norwich

Bilic is still walking on a tightrope. At 2-0 last night I am sure people were starting to write their obituaries and the West Ham manager will have gone through every emotion last night.

He was given last night’s match and Crystal Palace on Saturday to save his job. In reality it all rides on the trip to Selhurst Park.

If West Ham lose that match, Bilic would have very little defence.

Last night’s comeback victory will be a great tonic for this side. We saw a reaction, plenty of character and people giving everything to the cause.

It was another case of ‘Trembly Wembley’ for Tottenham. I could not see that capitulation happening at White Hart Lane.

They were swept away by West Ham. Physicality seemed to be an issue for Spurs, particularly when it came to dealing with balls into the box. Andy Carroll caused mayhem for them.

Now, Bilic must use this as a springboard. The Wembley heroics will be quickly forgotten if West Ham fail to get a result at Palace.

Slaven Bilic inspired his side to a stirring comeback against Tottenham at Wembley