So our friends at Barca sent this cool video as part of the club's new campaign to foster "healthy eating habits". In it, Lionel Messi appears as a cross between the a 14-year-old version of himself and Tin Tin the detective. "I know that if I train and eat well, I will win the Ballon d'Or," he drawls lazily, clearly unaware they would be using this footage again 10 years later.

Arsene Wenger's massive defensive acquisition Per Mertesacker has quickly endeared himself to the Gunners faithful by insisting that he has always been one of them while growing up in Germany.

The former Werder Bremen skipper revealed that he was not sure if the opportunity would ever arrive for him to play for Arsenal but having watched his boyhood club hammered 8-2 by champions Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend, the 26-year old is looking forward to helping the team recover.

Javier Hernandez has yet to start for Manchester United this season, after a busy summer of football followed by a concussion in pre-season training.

After an excellent debut season, Chicharito has revealed his targets for this season.

"To improve, keep learning and to enjoy myself," he said.

When it was discovered today that Bobby Rhine passed unexpectedly of a heart attack, it hit the greater MLS community fairly hard. Rhine had played 10 years with Dallas and just recently entered the broadcasting field as a rapidly rising star. Fans in Dallas are holding a memorial this evening. His family is asking for donations made in his name to the FC Dallas foundation.

The longstanding FC Dallas man for all seasons and play by play announcer passed away on Monday evening. The public face of FCD he was a much beloved figure amongst fans showing an unsurpassed humility and love for the game and club. From all accounts he was the sort of unspoiled figure one dreams off in an age of diminishing loyalties.

Vyacheslav Malafeev must feel a little sheepish when he looks at his latest Russian cap. For the 32-year-old barely deserved it.

That isn't a slight on his efforts, but merely a reflection on the game against Ireland, which saw the home side attack for the entire 90 minutes, meaning Malafeev could have had a little sleep and still kept a clean sheet.

Harry Redknapp praises Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish

Harry Redknapp is not surprised that Kenny Dalglish has returned to Liverpool with his instinct and desire to succeed unaffected by more than 10 years away from management.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-09-17 22:30:01 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

The age-old debate about playing on natural grass versus an artifical surface doesn't seem to be as controversial as it was 10-years ago.
A large part of that may be with the new technological advances in the new field turf, as well as the large growth of artificial fields all over the United States.