Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Tue Jun 09, 2020 6:01 pm
The Cardiff City academy goal machine likened to Craig Bellamy and now tipped for first-team breakthrough
Neil Harris is keen to promote youngsters and there is one who has just had the season of his life
By Glen Williams
Tuesday 9th June 2020
Cardiff City's James Waite has been tipped for a first-team breakthrough by his loan manager
It is no coincidence that there has been a greater emphasis on youth since Neil Harris took over as manager of Cardiff City.
Indeed, one of the reasons he got the job was down to his success with the youth team at Millwall and his passion for showing youth a pathway through to the first team.
Harris has spoken about a clutch of youngsters Bluebirds fans should be getting excited about and has afforded the likes of Joel Bagan, Ntazana Mayembe, Tom Sang and Sam Bowen ample opportunities around the first team in recent months.
But one player who has seemingly escaped the limelight, at least in the Welsh capital, is James Waite.
That, however, is because he was busy arguably enjoying the season of his life on loan at Weston-super-Mare.
The diminutive forward, 21, was earmarked with the likes of Cameron Coxe, Mark Harris and Sion Spence as the group of special players to be progressing through the academy a couple of years back.
But, save a solitary Carabao Cup substitute appearance in the chastening defeat by Luton Town back in August, we have seen precious little of him in a Cardiff City shirt.
Back in October, though, he sought a loan to Weston-super-Mare, a club with whom Cardiff City have great ties, and began ripping up trees.
He scored 13 goals in 18 games, including two hat-tricks, a quite remarkable return given he was plying his trade in the No.10 role or occasionally on the wing.
The Wales Under-21 international became an integral part of the side down at Optima Stadium and Seagulls manager Scott Bartlett has backed him to breakthrough into the Cardiff City first team.
"After Christmas, when he was flying for us, he started training with (Cardiff's) first team, so that's a big step," Bartlett told WalesOnline. "He wouldn't have looked out of place in there.
"Because of his attitude, he's not going to go away. He's durable, resilient and I think he's got a real chance.
"He's very enthused and he loves Cardiff. But he knew, coming to us, it was to get him some different type of games.
"Take away his goals, and he has scored some fantastic goals, he's just a good footballer. He's clever, he uses his body well, gets in good positions, puts a shift in for the team.
"Sometimes, when you're under the cosh, he'll be in the right-back spot defending. I just think he's really bright."
There are two sides to Waite which have impressed the coaching staff, and players, at Weston-super-Mare; his attitude on the pitch and his attitude off it.
When the season was cut short by 14 games, Waite was the first person to pick up the phone and call Bartlett to thank him for the opportunity to play there this season, a classy and mature gesture from someone who only last month celebrated his 21st birthday.
His work rate was second to none, too, which Cardiff City boss Neil Harris demands.
And on the pitch? Well, he reminds Bartlett of a certain Bluebirds legend.
"When James came to us his attitude was absolutely first class," the Seagulls boss added. "He never missed a session.
"Sometimes he trained with Cardiff in the day, I'd tell him to have a rest and not come in in the evening and he would still turn up and do a light session. That tells you everything. That tells me he has got a fantastic opportunity because he's also got incredible natural ability.
"I think he'll be a No.10, but he's very clever and quick. He reminds me of Craig Bellamy, the way his body shape is, the way he runs and he's a good finisher. He's a tenacious little thing."
Some might say the leap from seventh-tier football to a team pushing for a play-off spot might be some stretch and, of course, they are right to point that out.
However, Bartlett has a wealth of knowledge from his time coaching and scouting in the Football League. He has scouted the likes of James Norwood at Ipswich Town, Matty Taylor at Bristol City and Wales international and Wigan striker Kieffer Moore, who was the subject of two rejected bids from Cardiff City back in January, of course.
During his time at Forest Green Rovers, Bartlett also coached Jordan Stevens, who now plays for Championship leaders Leeds United. So he is more than qualified to give his view on whether a footballer can cut it.
"I think he can play at that level at some point," Bartlett added. "It's not for me to pick them, but I can go by all the loans we've had and he's fantastic.
"We use one or two as a marker, we watch a lot of Championship football, and I'd love for him to go and do well.
"And, if he doesn't, it won't be for a lack of effort or attitude, because he's a really good boy and has obviously been brought up brilliantly at Cardiff."
Neil Harris is keen to promote youngsters and there is one who has just had the season of his life
By Glen Williams
Tuesday 9th June 2020
Cardiff City's James Waite has been tipped for a first-team breakthrough by his loan manager
It is no coincidence that there has been a greater emphasis on youth since Neil Harris took over as manager of Cardiff City.
Indeed, one of the reasons he got the job was down to his success with the youth team at Millwall and his passion for showing youth a pathway through to the first team.
Harris has spoken about a clutch of youngsters Bluebirds fans should be getting excited about and has afforded the likes of Joel Bagan, Ntazana Mayembe, Tom Sang and Sam Bowen ample opportunities around the first team in recent months.
But one player who has seemingly escaped the limelight, at least in the Welsh capital, is James Waite.
That, however, is because he was busy arguably enjoying the season of his life on loan at Weston-super-Mare.
The diminutive forward, 21, was earmarked with the likes of Cameron Coxe, Mark Harris and Sion Spence as the group of special players to be progressing through the academy a couple of years back.
But, save a solitary Carabao Cup substitute appearance in the chastening defeat by Luton Town back in August, we have seen precious little of him in a Cardiff City shirt.
Back in October, though, he sought a loan to Weston-super-Mare, a club with whom Cardiff City have great ties, and began ripping up trees.
He scored 13 goals in 18 games, including two hat-tricks, a quite remarkable return given he was plying his trade in the No.10 role or occasionally on the wing.
The Wales Under-21 international became an integral part of the side down at Optima Stadium and Seagulls manager Scott Bartlett has backed him to breakthrough into the Cardiff City first team.
"After Christmas, when he was flying for us, he started training with (Cardiff's) first team, so that's a big step," Bartlett told WalesOnline. "He wouldn't have looked out of place in there.
"Because of his attitude, he's not going to go away. He's durable, resilient and I think he's got a real chance.
"He's very enthused and he loves Cardiff. But he knew, coming to us, it was to get him some different type of games.
"Take away his goals, and he has scored some fantastic goals, he's just a good footballer. He's clever, he uses his body well, gets in good positions, puts a shift in for the team.
"Sometimes, when you're under the cosh, he'll be in the right-back spot defending. I just think he's really bright."
There are two sides to Waite which have impressed the coaching staff, and players, at Weston-super-Mare; his attitude on the pitch and his attitude off it.
When the season was cut short by 14 games, Waite was the first person to pick up the phone and call Bartlett to thank him for the opportunity to play there this season, a classy and mature gesture from someone who only last month celebrated his 21st birthday.
His work rate was second to none, too, which Cardiff City boss Neil Harris demands.
And on the pitch? Well, he reminds Bartlett of a certain Bluebirds legend.
"When James came to us his attitude was absolutely first class," the Seagulls boss added. "He never missed a session.
"Sometimes he trained with Cardiff in the day, I'd tell him to have a rest and not come in in the evening and he would still turn up and do a light session. That tells you everything. That tells me he has got a fantastic opportunity because he's also got incredible natural ability.
"I think he'll be a No.10, but he's very clever and quick. He reminds me of Craig Bellamy, the way his body shape is, the way he runs and he's a good finisher. He's a tenacious little thing."
Some might say the leap from seventh-tier football to a team pushing for a play-off spot might be some stretch and, of course, they are right to point that out.
However, Bartlett has a wealth of knowledge from his time coaching and scouting in the Football League. He has scouted the likes of James Norwood at Ipswich Town, Matty Taylor at Bristol City and Wales international and Wigan striker Kieffer Moore, who was the subject of two rejected bids from Cardiff City back in January, of course.
During his time at Forest Green Rovers, Bartlett also coached Jordan Stevens, who now plays for Championship leaders Leeds United. So he is more than qualified to give his view on whether a footballer can cut it.
"I think he can play at that level at some point," Bartlett added. "It's not for me to pick them, but I can go by all the loans we've had and he's fantastic.
"We use one or two as a marker, we watch a lot of Championship football, and I'd love for him to go and do well.
"And, if he doesn't, it won't be for a lack of effort or attitude, because he's a really good boy and has obviously been brought up brilliantly at Cardiff."
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Re: Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Tue Jun 09, 2020 7:58 pm
Really hope we get to see some youngsters breaking through into the first team either this season or next.
It's even more vital now that we start promoting young talent and give them a chance if they're good enough.
It's even more vital now that we start promoting young talent and give them a chance if they're good enough.
Re: Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:18 am
davids wrote:Really hope we get to see some youngsters breaking through into the first team either this season or next.
It's even more vital now that we start promoting young talent and give them a chance if they're good enough.
Great comment
Re: Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:30 am
I love how the press go over the top with comparisons Comparing him to Bellers is crazy He was played nearly 120 league games and scored 40 goals by he was 21 and in the senior Wales team No comparison I am afraid
Re: Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:35 am
Abergavenny wrote:I love how the press go over the top with comparisons Comparing him to Bellers is crazy He was played nearly 120 league games and scored 40 goals by he was 21 and in the senior Wales team No comparison I am afraid
...and the comparisons came from the Weston Super mare manager
. Looks a bit like him in stature but that's about it.
Re: Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Wed Jun 10, 2020 8:09 pm
If he was as good as Ballamy he would br playing for us already. It's a bit ridiculous to be calling him a promising youngster at the age of 21. More likely the next Rhys Healy than Bellamy.
Re: Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:56 am
Tony Blue Williams wrote:davids wrote:Really hope we get to see some youngsters breaking through into the first team either this season or next.
It's even more vital now that we start promoting young talent and give them a chance if they're good enough.
Great comment
I second that
Re: Cardiff City’s New Striker Likened to Craig Bellamy
Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:46 am
Crayfish wrote:If he was as good as Ballamy he would br playing for us already. It's a bit ridiculous to be calling him a promising youngster at the age of 21. More likely the next Rhys Healy than Bellamy.
I hope you're wrong but I do have concerns that he's 21 and still not got anywhere near a regular first team spot for us in the Championship.
There are plenty of examples of late developers, Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy are the obvious ones, but they are getting fewer and farther between and nowadays with the Academy and scouting in place you would expect real talent spotted a lot earlier.
As I say, I really hope my fears are proved wrong and he scores a hatful for us, but he will be the exception rather than the rule if he does.