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26th November 2010: The Only Way is Essex stars Mark Wright and Lucy Mecklenburgh brought football chic to Chelmsford City yesterday in preparation for the club’s 2nd round FA Cup battle with Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday.

Mark Wright, 23, a former Tottenham youth team captain, knows what a battle Wanderers face this weekend having frequently come out on the losing side against City during spells with both Crawley Town and Rushden & Diamonds.

Mark said: “This weekend’s clash with Wycombe is like a cup final for Chelmsford. It’s great to see one of my local Essex sides doing so well in this season’s competition and I just hope the boys can pull off a shock. I’d love to see them in the hat for the 3rd round draw on Sunday, it would be a dream to see them take on Scunthorpe United, the team my brother Josh plays for. Come on the Clarets!”

The 2nd Round of The FA Cup kicks off this evening with non-league Crawley Town taking on Swindon Town live on ESPN (KO 7:45). The weekend’s TV coverage continues on Saturday with all the live action from Kingsmeadow as League 2 Stevenage travel to AFC Wimbledon (ITV 1, KO 12:50).

The weekend’s FA Cup action culminates in the 3rd Round draw on Sunday at 6pm (live on ITV 1) with special guests Noel Gallagher, an avid Manchester City fan, and Leicester City supporter Serge from the multi million selling band Kasabian.

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The 2nd Round FA Cup draw in full

Sheffield Wednesday v Northampton Town

Burton Albion v Chesterfield

Huddersfield Town v Macclesfield Town

AFC Wimbledon v Stevenage

Hartlepool United v Yeovil Town

Bury v Peterborough United

Notts County v Bournemouth

Droylsden v Leyton Orient

Crawley Town v Swindon Town

Brighton & Hove Albion v FC United of Manchester

Southampton v Cheltenham Town

Torquay United v Walsall

Charlton Athletic v Luton Town

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Colchester United v Swindon Supermarine

Hereford United v Lincoln City

Port Vale v Accrington Stanley

Wycombe Wanderers v Chelmsford City

Carlisle United v Tamworth

Dover Athletic v Aldershot Town

Darlington v York City

Easter began with another Cissé flurry,

The Newcastle striker is as hot as a curry,

Wigan unfortunate as they lose it late,

With referees decisions leaving Martinez irate,

But Chelsea don’t mind, for them it doesn’t Mata,

As Fernando’s strike falls to Juan on a platter,

More West London joy in the North West

With Fulham excelling in their Bolton test,

Liverpool must wonder what the league will yield,

As the Reds, yet again, disappoint at Anfield,

United’s pressure proving too much for City,

For Mario Balotelli, Mancini has no pity,

Whilst the Citizens are gloomy, Arsenal cheer,

Wojciech Szcesny even enjoys a beer!

Goal of the Weekend

Quite a few long range strikes were enjoyed by Premier League fans on Easter weekend. Clint Dempsey, Paul Scholes, Mohamed Diamé and Mikel Arteta were the men providing the moments of fine technical skill. However, let’s appreciate something altogether more subtle – Papiss Demba Cissé’s impudent dink over Michel Vorm was majestic.

The Senegalese striker has made an excellent start since moving over from Germany in January. Cissé’s fantastic finish on Good Friday ensured he now has nine goals from his first eight games in the Premier League. Should he score on Monday against Bolton, he’ll become the second quickest man to 10 goals in Premier League history, a further indication of how quickly he’s adapted to the Premier League.

Player of the Weekend

Like Cissé, Clint Dempsey is enjoying a fine season in the Premier League. He netted twice in Fulham’s away win over Bolton on Saturday. The American powered in a 30-yard free-kick (although the positioning of the wall by Adam Bogdan was questionable). His second demonstrated good anticipation as he stole into the six yard box unnoticed before planting a header past Bogdan for Fulham’s second. Dempsey may have missed his chance for a hat-trick in the second half but it was nevertheless, a terrific performance from the attacking midfielder, ensuring Martin Jol’s side picked up only their third away win of the season.

Miss of the Weekend

This weekend, there was a Flemish flavour to the scarcely believable missed opportunities. Belgian international Thomas Vermaelen failed to slide in from two yards after the ball ricocheted off the post from Walcott although Yossi Benayoun was equally culpable. However, Liverpool’s Dutch winger Dirk Kuyt chipped in with a contender for Miss of the Season. As Captain Steven Gerrard rifled the ball across the box, Kuyt was no more than a yard out from goal when he managed to fire over the crossbar. No wonder the Reds are struggling to win at the moment.

Quote of the Weekend

Staying with Liverpool where manager Kenny Dalglish hasn’t been a happy bunny (had to get an Easter reference in somewhere). After Referee Michael Oliver didn’t award a penalty to Liverpool on Saturday, Dalglish said in his post-match interview:

“Somebody needs to be assassinated for us to get a penalty”

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Just a slight over exaggeration there…

For more Premier League musings, follow @archiert1 on Twitter

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Ruud Gullit’s tenure in charge of Chechen club Terek Grozny ended with his sacking minutes after a 1-0 defeat to Amkar Perm on Tuesday.Dutchman Gullit, a former FIFA World Player of the Year, took over at the Russian Premier League club in January 2011, charged with bringing European football to the troubled state.

But Terek have managed just three wins from 13 matches this season under Gullit.

The former Chelsea and LA Galaxy coach was told by Chechen leader and Terek President Ramzan Kadyrov that if the team did not beat Amkar, he would be sacked for ‘thinking about bars and discotheques’ rather than football.

After a 1-0 defeat at the Zvezda Stadium, courtesy of a last-minute own goal from defender Sergey Omelyanchuk, Kadyrov proved true to his word, dismissing Gullit within moments of the final whistle.

“Gullit will no longer train Terek,” the Interfax news agency quoted Kadyrov as saying.

“Unfortunately, he was unable to prove his mettle as a trainer. Under his leadership, the team played exceptionally poorly this season.”

Gullit, who won two European Cups with AC Milan and the 1988 European Championships with the Netherlands, said after the match that he expected to be sacked regardless of the result.

“I don’t think it would have mattered if I had won or lost,” Gullit said.

The 48-year-old departs with Terek 14th in the Russian Premier League, three points and just two places off the foot of the table.

Liverpool’s recently appointed Director of football, Damien Comolli, is not one to shy away from blowing his own trumpet. He claims credit for the recent successes of the Spurs team, particularly the uncovering of Gareth Bale. Having been in charge of recruitment for three years at Spurs from September 2005- October 2005, it is no wonder that the majority of the team are players he has signed. Especially given that this was a period of strong investment in the transfer market by Tottenham. His claims, although debatably credible, expose a lack of professionalism and hunger for media attention for the man now at the helm of Liverpool’s transfer policy. When surely the club are wishing to turn attention away from the backroom staff and running of the club and onto positive events on the field.

It also shows an extremely selective memory, neglecting such expensive failures as Darren Bent and David Bentley, Tottenham’s two most expensive signings. Other players bought to the club that have evaded Comolli’s memory consisted of Hossam Ghaly, Ricardo Rocha, Gilberto and Dorian Dervite to name but a few. Such an expansive but scattered transfer policy was bound to bring in a few gems that have gone on to establish themselves in the first team. But the long list of failings in such a short space of time suggests Comolli is not the shrewd recruiter of talent he would have us believe.

Under Martin Jol there was a clear emphasis to bring in young British talent to the club in order to build for the future. This could go some way to explaining why Comolli’s signings at Spurs are only now beginning to flourish given time and correct management. And perhaps given a different brief at Liverpool i.e. to find players that would immediately improve the first team; he could prove beneficial in the short term given his eye for talent. As his successful signings at Spurs, which he is more than happy to point to, suggest he does possess. However aside from the less than successful players mentioned he also resided over the recruitment of two strikers each costing over £13m, Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko. They were subsequently deemed by two successive managers, Ramos and Redknapp, unable to play together at a time when they were the only recognised senior strikers in the squad. Although it is unclear who is entirely to blame for this scenario, it seems to me that a Director of football should recruit players to fill the positions needed and should know how they can fit in to the existing. The failure to address the departure of Michael Carrick, that so badly affected a team that was a lasagne-gate away from qualifying for the Champion League in 2004, has got to be seen as a huge transfer failure. Especially if Zokora was intended as that replacement, given his game is completely different of that of Carrick’s.

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The most baffling transfer scenario that developed during Comolli’s time at Tottenham was the failure to address the problem on the left wing. A problem admittedly that Spurs had had for a few years before his arrival. But I find it hard to believe that neither Jol nor Ramos told the Director of football that this was a position they needed to fill by entering the transfer market. Yet instead of a left winger or even left sided midfielder Spurs became flooded with mediocre central midfielders such as Murphy, Ghaly, Boateng, O’Hara who were all forced to play out on the left and therefore never got the opportunity to show what they could really do. Right back was the other position where Comolli’s scattered transfer policy was overindulged, with Hutton Chimbonda, Corluka and Gunter all coming to the club in the space of two years. Seeing as Hodgson seems to be doing a reasonable job of signing central midfielders that are not going to set the world alight in Poulsen and Miereles. Liverpool fans should be concerned with the possibility of a high influx of young right backs to settle their problems in front of goal.

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Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has admitted that he is keen to be involved for Team Great Britain in this summer’s Olympic Games.

Stuart Pearce will lead a team comprising players from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to compete at the tournament, with ambassador David Beckham rumoured to be one of the high profile players set to play.

Cleverley, who will also be in contention for England’s Euro 2012 squad despite an injury-plagued campaign, is eyeing a place at the Olympics.

“It is something that everyone strives for – to experience new things throughout your career – so the Olympics would be different,” he told Mirror Football.

“For a young English player, it is an exciting summer of football with the Euros and Olympics, and I would be proud to represent at either of those.

“Having the chance to have an Olympic gold medal in your trophy cabinet would be unbelievable – a lot of the players are talking about it.

“I always looked up to David Beckham when I was young. To play alongside him would be great,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Manchester United and Barcelona will be in search of their fourth European Championship when they meet in the UEFA Champions League final.Saturday’s final at Wembley will mark the second time in three years the sides have met in the final of Europe’s most prestigious club competition, after the Catalan giants prevailed 2-0 in Rome in 2009.

Pep Guardiola’s team, champions in Spain for the third straight time, lost only twice in their successful La Liga campaign.

United, who won the European crown in 2007-08 with a penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea, are also coming off a successful domestic campaign that saw them claim a record 19th Premiership in England.

Some claim it was an unconvincing title win, yet Sir Alex Ferguson had his team playing consistent football and clinching points late in games to finish nine points clear at season’s end.

His team lost just four games all campaign, twice as good as the next best in Arsenal and Tottenham, who both lost eight.

Built on a strong defence featuring captain Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand and well supported by the retiring Edwin van der Sar in goal, United have one of the best defensive trios in the world.

They will need to be in form against some of the world’s best attacking players – including Lionel Messi, David Villa and Andres Iniesta – who have the ability to take a game away from the opposition teams in moments of brilliance.

Xavi will pull the strings in midfield and Sergio Busquets will also have an impact across the middle of the park, but all the talk in the lead-up from the United camp has been focused on Messi.

The dynamic Argentine scored the second goal in the Rome final in 2009 and his form this European campaign has been even better.

Messi has found the net 11 times in 12 appearances this time around, improving his record of nine scored in 12 games two years ago.

Barca dominated that final and United cannot afford to give up a 10th-minute goal like they did at the Stadio Olimpico.

Guardiola’s team was happy to keep possession after taking the lead and they will do similar if United allow the opener.

Whether Ferguson will be willing to give up the ball to his counterparts remains unknown, but his side will need to keep their attacking wits about them if they do.

Wayne Rooney and his ability to produce in critical moments will be decisive, while Javier Hernandez has scored four times in the Champions League this season and could cap off what has already been a memorable debut season with the Red Devils, should he get his name on the score sheet.

A mouth-watering battle out wide between Dani Alves and the evergreen Ryan Giggs could also be on the cards.

Barcelona have the chance to etch themselves in history as one of the great teams, while this United side will be out to prove they are better than the pundits are willing to give them credit for.

Chelsea defender Yuri Zhirkov has dismissed reports suggesting he is unhappy at Stamford Bridge and keen to return to Russia.

The 27-year-old Russia international moved to Chelsea from CSKA Moscow in the summer of 2009 only for a knee injury to restrict him to only 22 starts for the club.

He has not started a Premier League game since April but is expected to feature in Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Spartak Moscow.

Zhirkov admitted:"I've not lived up to my full potential because I haven't played too many games in the first team.

"But I'll try to show more. I'm getting fitter game by game and I'll try to show more. My fitness is getting better and I'm feeling more confident.

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"Talk of me returning to Russia is just rumours and speculation. I don't want to leave Chelsea and, if the manager doesn't want to sell me, I will stay."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Mario Balotelli has been told to grow up by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli, as the Manchester City forward was left out of the nation’s squad to play United States on Wednesday.

The game ended in a 1-0 win for the North American team, with the Italian media slamming their side; however Prandelli has revealed his reasons for excluding Balotelli.

“There are rules and they must be respected,” Prandelli is quoted as saying in Mirror Football.

“When Balotelli begins to behave well he will get a call-up. He has been handed eight games in suspensions so far in England, which is a lot.

“A great player must be able to face provocation and should not react. He can still have an extraordinary career, but there is no justification for certain types of behaviour,” he explained.

Reports in Italy are stating that Prandelli wants Balotelli to phone him to assure that his behaviour will improve, something that the attacker’s agent feels is preposterous.

“Mario has been crucified by an entirely undeserved suspension,” Mino Raiola stated.

“He has not been called up and now we read the statements of Prandelli.

“If a player is not called up, it should be up to the coach to pick up the phone and explain the reason – it has always been that way. Instead Prandelli wants Balotelli to call him. For what? To cry and complain about being left out?

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“If Prandelli does not want to take Balotelli to the European Championships he must say it now,” the representative concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Celtic boss Neil Lennon insists his players will not be affected by the weight of expectation ahead of Wednesday’s away clash at Inverness.Celtic sit a point behind their Old Firm rivals Rangers, with a game in hand, and could find themselves atop the Scottish Premier League should they bring home the points against Terry Butcher’s men.

And Lennon believes the pressure to win the title will not get to his players at the crucial moment.

“They have handled it so far. Everyone keeps talking about it except for us,” Lennon said.

“We just want them to go and play and express themselves the way they have done for the majority of the season.”

“Everyone outside of football says it’s about holding your nerve. It is to a certain extent but it’s just about having the ability to express yourselves under pressure.”

With the season’s end in sight, and Celtic having played 47 games in all competitions so far, Lennon highlighted the importance of keeping his troops mentality fresh.

“These guys have been under pressure all season, and as the finishing line gets closer, obviously the games get a bit more tense, but we’ll keep that tenseness away from them, that’s our job,” he said.

“It’s important we keep them fresh and in a good frame of mind but they are doing that with their performances.”

“They don’t know any different so maybe that can work in their favour.”

Lennon, 39, who made more than 200 appearances for the Glaswegians and notched up 40 caps for Northern Ireland, said he was familiar with the pressure the players were under.

“I’ve been there as an experienced player but the pressure is still the same whether you have the experience or not,” Lennon said.

“It can help obviously but it doesn’t change the fact that every season throws up different challenges and pressures and Rangers will be feeling it as much as our players.”

Netherlands international Maarten Stekelenburg has set his sights on a move away from Ajax next summer, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United having been linked with the highly-rated goalkeeper.

The 28-year-old's current contract runs out at the end of next season and Stekelenburg believes that an extension is out of the question.

He told NUsport:"I don't expect Ajax to try to offer me a new improved deal. That really won't happen.

"My current contract goes on for one more year after this season. Ajax are looking to make some money by selling me and I really want the club to get a good transfer fee.

"It's probably the best thing for Ajax to sell me in the summer of 2011.

"However, I will be the one who decides where I'm going to sign. I want to move to a bigger league and not to a relegation candidate.

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"I'd rather stay one more year at Ajax than join a small team in a big league. I'm not in a rush to leave the club.

"I started the season with Ajax and I will stay at the club until the end of the 2010-11 campaign. I'm confident that we can achieve great things with this team."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email