Weiss joins Bolton on loan

As per the MEN:

MANCHESTER City winger Vladimir Weiss has joined Bolton on loan until the end of the season.

The young Slovakian has made four appearances for the Blues this season and scored in City's 3-0 win over Arsenal in the Carling Cup.

He has now been sent to Bolton in a bid to gain more first-team experience.

And now confirmed on the official site.

I posted a week or so about the merits of Weiss being loaned out and the question is whether his long term development will be better suited by remaining with us, training and being around the first team squad and getting some minutes on occasion, or whether regular (we assume) football at Bolton for half a season will be the 'finishing school' for him to come back and be ready to step in for 2010/11.

As prodiguous a talent Weiss is, it is still a big call from Owen Coyle, newly installed as Bolton boss and in the thick of a relegation battle, to bring in a young, untested player at Premier League level. It is perhaps an indication of his intent as to the style of football he wants to play - something that is an important consideration in the decision where Weiss ended up.

It is also a World Cup year of course, and Weiss is very much expected to be part of Slovakia's squad so the need to be playing regularly ahead of the tournament would also have been a factor.

The only surprise for me is that the deal is set up now, when there was every likelihood Weiss would have played on Sunday at Scunthorpe. Perhaps an indication as to the side Roberto Mancini is looking to put out?

Weiss to be loaned out?

There are strong reports today that Vladimir Weiss could be set to leave the club for the short term, with Roberto Mancini confirming a loan move could be forthcoming:

"It is possible Vladimir will go somewhere on loan," said Mancini. "He is a good young player who is going to be important to this club in the future.

"But he needs to play. We have not decided where though. That will be Vladimir's choice."

I'm not overly convinced the idea of Weiss departing is necessarily a good one. He has progressed so much in the past 12-18 months that he is now a feature on the bench, and pushing hard for a first team spot. Clearly he is ready to make the step up, and only the ridiculous competition for attacking places has prevented him playing more often than he is. Just think how much he would have played by now if this was 2005.

The idea of a loan therefore may not be ideal for him given that he doesn't particularly need a spell at 'finishing school' before coming back a first team regular.

You also have to be careful with a loan to ensure he goes to the right club and environment. He will obviously be away from Mancini and the training regime he is implementing, which, given the squad we have must do wonders for the younger players. If he does go out on loan, there is no way he drops down outside the Premier League, and will his development be best served going to a side battling and scrapping to avoid the drop?

A thought on where he may land if he does go? With a new manager who is known for trying to play football, Bolton may not be too wide of the mark.

Weiss and Zabaleta sign new deals

Firstly Vladimir Weiss:

CITY starlet Vladimir Weiss has signed a new contract keeping him with the Blues until 2012.

The World Cup bound Slovakian winger scored his first goal for City against Arsenal in the Carling Cup last month.

And he is now focused on following midfielder Stephen Ireland's first-team footsteps.

And also Pablo Zabaleta:

The no-nonsense right-back has become a popular figure at Eastlands since becoming one of the first players to join Mark Hughes' overhaul of the club in the summer of 2008, signing from Espanyol.

The Argentina international has racked up 50 performances for the club in the that time, despite facing strong competition for a starting place from Micah Richards, not least in part because of his ability to play as a holding midfielder when required.

Bellamy and Weiss hit by swine flu

Manchester City have become the latest Premier League club to have been affected by the swine flu outbreak.

Craig Bellamy and Vladimir Weiss are understood to have been affected by the illness, while several members of staff have also reported flu-like symptoms. Weiss, the highly rated 20-year-old Slovakia winger, was the first to contract the H1N1 virus last week and was ordered to remain at home for Saturday's Premier League victory over Chelsea. City have subsequently confirmed that Bellamy has reported similar symptoms.

>>timesonline.

Praise for Weiss

From Mark Hughes:

"We have high hopes for Vladi. He knows he is still very early in his development, when he came out of the Academy last year I think it was all a little bit too much for him. He found the step up difficult to negotiate initially.

"But, we knew we had a talented boy on our hands. What he needed to understand were the expectations and the responsibility that comes with being a professional footballer, in terms of what is expected of him on the field.

"At times he was finding it difficult to take on board what he needed to do with regard to his positional play and his responsibilities. However he has worked exceptionally hard and deserved his chance at the end of last season. I was really pleased to be able to get him on in that last game, and he really thrived in that little time he had against Bolton."

You get the sense that Hughes and the coaching staff are certainly enamoured with Weiss. He does look to have physically matured since 2008/09, and has been involved in the squad for each game this season (with an appearance at the Camp Nou).

Whilst the path to the first team is undoubtedly a tougher one to negotiate than in seasons past, it is not merely cliche to state if you are good enough then you will get your opportunities.

We are blessed with attacking threat in the squad, but it appears certain that Weiss will see extended playing time over the course of this season.