Weiss promised he will get his Reebok chance
VLADIMIR Weiss is upset at his lack of match action in a Wanderers shirt but Owen Coyle has promised the silky-skilled winger that his time will come soon.
The on-loan Slovakian has not started a game at the Reebok since arriving from Manchester City, due in the main to Chung-Yong Lee’s electric form on the right.
And while Coyle admits he has often had to disappoint Weiss since pipping local rivals Wigan to his signature in January, he has vowed to give him more game time before he returns to Eastlands – via the World Cup – in the summer.
“Vlad has been frustrated and I have been frustrated for him,” he said.
“He is such a lovely kid and we brought him to the club to play. And he will play.
“I speak to him every day and know he has got big goals in front of him. He wants to show everyone he’s a Premier League player, and he is. That’s why we brought him here.
“Between now and the end of the season you will see more of Vladimir, which is great, because he’s champing at the bit to come on.”
Weiss arrived at Wanderers hoping for a chance to cement his place in Slovakia’s World Cup squad in the summer.
Despite the fact his national team is coached by his father, the 20-year-old’s inclusion is by no means cut and dry, leading the slightly-built midfielder to pursue a move away from City after Mark Hughes was sacked in December.
“I came to England five years ago when I was just turning 16,” he said. “City always gave young players a chance.
“Then when I was just getting in the first team, someone else came to the club. So, I was a bit unlucky with that but it gives you something positive to aim for.
“I probably didn’t get as many games as I wanted. But training with the players was unbelievable.
“When I first came to England, I could never have dreamed about playing with the likes of Robinho and (Carlos) Tevez.
“Sometimes when you go out on loan people say it is good because you need to play games.
“Others say you should stay and maybe it’s a bit early. I wanted to go on loan last year but when Mark Hughes was there I knew I wouldn't be able to leave City.
“Then it changed and a new manager came in. Everything was different. I spoke to him and told him what the situation was like.”
Coyle moved quickly to sign Weiss in January, seeing that Chung-Yong had played virtually non-stop since the end of March.
By the manager’s own admission, the Korean’s performances in the interim have rendered him virtually undroppable.
But Weiss is holding out hope that he will get enough game time between now and mid-May to book his seat on the plane to South Africa, and underline his top-flight credentials.
“Competition for places is everywhere in the Premier League,” he said. “It was hard at City and I knew even if I came to Bolton it would be hard too.
“I am just trying my best, like everyone. If I get a chance I have got to do well. It’s not easy but hopefully I will be getting the chances to help the team.”
Weiss has also thanked Wanderers’ fans, who have backed him and the Whites’ other loan star Jack Wilshere wholeheartedly since they arrived at the start of the year.
"You get confidence from the fans and they took to me well like they did with Jack Wilshere,” he said. “So, it’s good for us for young players when the fans support you.” The Bolton News
Academy Falls 2-1 to Manchester City bollox
Manchester, England
The LA Galaxy Academy narrowly missed out on the first positive result of their England tour this afternoon with a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at Platt Lane.
With just one game scheduled, coaches Trevor James, Matt Mennell and Kenny Arena used a combination of the U-16 and U-18 squads against a City side that featured a host of Youth Internationals from across Europe, including Frederic Veseli, the captain of the Swiss team that won the 2009 U-17 World Cup in Nigeria in November and England U-17 midfielder Ahmed Benali.
Despite not playing together as a group prior to Wednesday morning's warmup, the Galaxy nearly took an early lead over their hosts with forward Christian Alvarado having a goal called back for offside and midfielder Riley Wolfe blazing a freekick high over the bar inside the opening 10 minutes.
At the other end of the field, defender Joe Kearney was forced to clear off his line after City had beaten goalkeeper Vince Paldino, who later came up with a reflex save of his own to keep the game scoreless at the break.
Shortly after the restart, U-16 forward Neil Ignacio, who scored his team's first goal on Monday at Blackburn, entered the game and had an immediate impact. He raced onto a long ball down the right flank from Wolfe, managing to keep the ball in play before in crossed over the end line. Ignacio then spun past a City defender and crossed to Alvarado at the near post where the Galaxy forward was able to smash a header home and put LA up 1-0.
However that lead would last just two minutes before City equalized, slotting home the rebound of another diving stop by Paladino.
City scored the winner with just more than 20 minutes left when they caught the Galaxy on a quick counterattack and beat Paladino to make the score 2-1.
Ignacio and fellow substitute midfielder Ritchie Gonzalez each had chances to equalize late on but could not find a way past the City goalkeeper and the game finished 2-1 in favor of the hosts.
Galaxy Lineup: Vince Paladino; Joe Kearney (John Atkinson 85'), Mike Mardesich, Juan Perez, Gabriel Rivera; Nathaniel Schnitman, Eric Verso (Juan Mendoza 80'), Spencer Johnson (Ritchie Gonzalez 70'), Riley Wolfe; Christian Alvarado (Trent Clifton 65'/Dyllan Stevens 89'), Ruben Valencia (Neil Ignacio 49').
Injury-plagued Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson expects to be back for the start of pre-season training this summer.
Big things were expected of Johnson when he broke into the City first team under Stuart Pearce in 2006, but the 22-year-old's progress has been badly affected by injury, starting with an abdominal problem that kept him on the sidelines for most of last season.
Johnson told http://www.mcfc.co.uk: "If everything goes to plan I am looking at the start of next season to be hopefully joining in with training sessions again."
Without rediscovering top form, Johnson did at least force his way back into the first-team picture this term, only to suffer a major knee injury in training just before Christmas that ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.
Johnson could be forgiven for allowing his fitness worries to get him down.
Instead, the former England Under-21 star is buoyant again after receiving the green light to step up his recovery.
And he is eager to be available again when City begin preparations for a campaign that could yet include Champions League combat for the first time when Roberto Mancini's men return to training after their summer break.
"No player wants to have to go through such a long recovery and it has just been bad luck that I have had two in a row early in my career," Johnson added.
"Having recovered from a serious injury before means that this time I am a little more experienced and can deal with the frustrations much better.
"It is just a matter of time, patience and hard work now."
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Wolfsburg coach Lorenz Gunther Kostner is desperate for striker Edin Dzeko to reject a summer move to Chelsea or Manchester City. The Sun
Spartak Moscow manager Valery Karpin has hit out at Liverpool winger Albert Riera over his wage demands and ruled out signing the Spaniard before the transfer window closes on Thursday. Daily Mail
Blackburn midfielder Moten Gamst Pedersen has been offered £25,000 a week to join Olympiakos this summer, while Fenebahce, Palermo and Fiorentina are also interested. The Sun
Sunderland have launched a bid to sign highly sought after Udinese winger Simone Pepe, with Black Cats boss Steve Bruce keen to make a statement of intent with a £15m bid.Daily Mail
Wolves are trailing Southampton's £2m-rated England Under-21 midfielder Adam Lallana, who has scored 18 goals this season and is also being watched by Tottenham and Fulham. Daily Mail
Leeds manager Simon Grayson is preparing a summer move for Swindon striker Billy Paynter. (The Sun)
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... #more-9172
OTHER BOLLOX
Burnley manager Brian Laws is on the brink of being sacked, barely three months after he was appointed at Turf Moor, following a run of only one win in 14 games.Daily Mail
Arsenal will make significant changes on and off the pitch this summer, with boss Arsene Wenger ready to make central defence a transfer priority and Stan Kroenke poised to make a pivotal decision in the long-term battle for control of the club. Daily Telegraph
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hinted he may quit Anfield unless the club invests in new players this summer. The Sun
Bentiez has admitted for the first time that he feels he has taken Liverpool as far as he can after six years of "wheeling and dealing", insisting the club will not be able to compete for the Premier League or Champions League without the cash injection provided by fresh investment. Daily Telegraph
Reds captain Steven Gerrard sees goalkeeper Pepe Reina one day becoming the club's skipper. The Sun
Aaron Lennon is set to give Tottenham and England a huge boost by featuring in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Portsmouth after recovering from a groin injury that has kept the winger out for over three months. Daily Mirror
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has warned that keeper Joe Hart's career could suffer if he is forced to return to Manchester City when his loan deal expires at the end of the season. The Sun
Argentina legend and current national team manager Diego Maradona says Lionel Messi is "the best in the world", adding that Barcelona's Argentine forward "is playing kick-about with Jesus". The Sun
Tottenham and England striker Peter Crouch will bring back his robot dance goal celebration - if he scores in the World Cup final. "I'd definitely pull out the robot in the World Cup final. I might even have to work on some new moves just in case that happens. But I doubt I'd have time to think about how to react if I scored." The Sun
Arsenal forward Carlos Vela could face disciplinary action from the club after he lost his passport and was unable to take his place in the Gunners squad for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg in Barcelona. Daily Mirror
England midfielder Steven Gerrard has bought a share in his favourite restaurant in Southport, Merseyside. The Liverpool captain now plans to reopen it with a New York theme in time for the World Cup. Daily Mail