‘ CARDIFF CITY’S MAIN STRIKERS ‘

Cardiff City’s Championship Strike force Watters & Crole:



Cardiff's striker cull has seen a couple of players benefit in particular. In the last six months, Kieffer Moore, Isaac Vassell, Jordan Hugill, Uche Ikpeazu and James Collins have all left the building, with no striker brought in to replace any of them as things stand.


By Glen Williams ( Junior reporter )

Tuesday 26th July 2022


It means Max Watters is clearly Cardiff's nailed-on first choice as we head into the season opener against the Canaries. And, it's fair to say, we have seen a far more comfortable Watters during pre-season, relishing the style of football being played.


Max Watters aged 23 11 appearances Bluebirds 1 goal:


Credit to him, too, his link-up play with midfielders and wingers has been a big positive against the lower league clubs in the pre-season friendlies , plus he has scored a couple of goals, too. He has also missed a fair share of chances, however. It's now time for Watters to start proving he is up to it at Championship level, but given he appears to be ahead of Mark Harris, the only other fit striker in the club, he looks set to be given a chance to do just that.







James Crole aged 18 0 appearances joined Cardiff City last year:

Championship appearances 0

On a similar theme to the above, James Crole has been given his chance in pre-season and couldn't have done much more. He impressed coaches on the trip up to Edinburgh, plus he scored and assisted in the 2-0 win over league 2 Newport County. He might just find himself on the bench at some point in the next couple of weeks and, with five substitutions allowed, he is perhaps an injury away from making his first-team debut.



As to Mark Harris five previous managers have given Harris a chance and it’s yet to remain if Steve Morison will?
Harris 24 years old this year and with 52 appearances and 5 goals in 5 years for the Bluebirds, he could still yet be relied on.

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Waters second chance, he could prove Morison wrong and be a hit.
Crole really rushing him

Waters second chance, he could prove Morison wrong and be a hit.
Crole really rushing him

I've always really liked Watters and held a genuine belief that our style and players behind him weren't suitable.

You can see from his movement, the runs he makes, going in behind and coming short, his first touches, and his scoring record that there is a player there. We do definitely need a second striker though, one to push Watters for competition, but also to ensure we have depth.

I like the look of Crole but saying he's our 2nd striker at this point might be a bit too much pressure on him. Although, I would choose him over Harris, who I genuinely believe is a mid-table League 1 player at best. Other than work rate, I just don't see what he offers from a technical or physical standpoint.

I have really thought about Watters and this is his last chance, but if he gets the service abd puts it out a bit he might just surprise us. Cant just drop him after one game, Morison needs to give him a run.

We have clearly changed our style of play completely.

SM ran with what we had last year and maintained the formation as the players were familiar with it. But it meant that watters was not suited to it.
Perhaps with the change In style it will suit him better (hopefully!!) and he can thrive. We still need more bodies but I’m sure the management team know this. Guys like ojo have a goal In him though and previous seasons haven’t had prolific goal scorers but we have still done well when we play positively.

I am hoping watters has turned a corner i was pleasantly suprised by him in the friendlies and i have before thought he was' nt worthy of bala town but the new system seems to suit got a funny feeling he is going to suprise a lot
"I think"

I have really thought about Watters and this is his last chance, but if he gets the service abd puts it out a bit he might just surprise us. Cant just drop him after one game, Morison needs to give him a run.

Agree .

In recent weeks I suggested the possibility of taking Liverpools Academy youngster Oakley Cannonier on loan given that he hit the net some 41 times last season and is a prolific England Youth international.

I was "shot down" but my thinking is that if we are considering putting Crole into the first team line up, then surely, if we had him on our books, Cannonier would also be a player who would be considered for the first team.

I am all for giving youngsters a chance to shine, but, in fairness, this also needs to be balanced with getting us into the top 6