SQUADWATCH - Summer 2026

[South Coast Royal]

I wish we'd get rid of Kelvin. I am sick of his inconsistency, his generally lethargy and most often than not, his just inability to do anything on the pitch. Granted he doesn't often get much service, but he just looks so lackluster most of the time

I guess the coaches at Rangers and Liverpool thought that they could make a consistent player out of Ejaria and the same for a while at Reading.

It feels the same with Big Kelvin.
In the previous 2 seasons he has come up with the odd amazing goal after dribbling past 2 or 3 players and it left us all feeling that there is the prospect of a top player there.

This season however, partly I suppose because of where and how he has been played we haven't seen that spark and goals have been hard to come by.
A coach some day, somewhere may get the best out of him on a consistent basis but I agree with the poster it might well be best for the player and the club for him to move.
We then bring in the bigger target man that feels necessary for a 3rd division or Championship side to build an attacking structure around, a Senior, a Dixon or a Kitson or a Roberts.

With that type of player on board the jobs of other players become clearer-wide men getting to the bye line and crossing for example whereas with Kelvin in the line-up it feels a bit hap hazard.

I also believe that if we are to have a stab at promotion then Yiadom and Dorsett have to be replaced and upgraded upon.

[tidus_mi2]

I wish we'd get rid of Kelvin. I am sick of his inconsistency, his generally lethargy and most often than not, his just inability to do anything on the pitch. Granted he doesn't often get much service, but he just looks so lackluster most of the time

I guess the coaches at Rangers and Liverpool thought that they could make a consistent player out of Ejaria and the same for a while at Reading.

It feels the same with Big Kelvin.
In the previous 2 seasons he has come up with the odd amazing goal after dribbling past 2 or 3 players and it left us all feeling that there is the prospect of a top player there.

This season however, partly I suppose because of where and how he has been played we haven't seen that spark and goals have been hard to come by.
A coach some day, somewhere may get the best out of him on a consistent basis but I agree with the poster it might well be best for the player and the club for him to move.
We then bring in the bigger target man that feels necessary for a 3rd division or Championship side to build an attacking structure around, a Senior, a Dixon or a Kitson or a Roberts.

With that type of player on board the jobs of other players become clearer-wide men getting to the bye line and crossing for example whereas with Kelvin in the line-up it feels a bit hap hazard.

I also believe that if we are to have a stab at promotion then Yiadom and Dorsett have to be replaced and upgraded upon.

Fullback has absolutely been an achilles heel this season, we concede too many crosses, we constantly get attack down the wings because teams know we aren't very good in that position.

[From Despair To Where?]

Unfortunately Yiadom is past it and Dorsett looks like what he is, a CB being asked to fill in at full back. That's fine if it's just for cover but not as a first choice LB. The other problem for him is he's 23 and probably 4th choice CB.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Hope neither Savage nor Wing leave. It wasn't their best season, but they are great players at this level and you can't help but think their disappointing performances had more to do with the style of play we adopted, and the incomplete feeling the midfield has had.

Same in response to a bit of the Marriott complaints on here. With a ticking midfield he would have broken records with the form he had this season. But we certainly need another decent striker, at least to cover him when he's injured if nothing else. Kelvin isn't that.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Hope neither Savage nor Wing leave. It wasn't their best season, but they are great players at this level and you can't help but think their disappointing performances had more to do with the style of play we adopted, and the incomplete feeling the midfield has had.

Same in response to a bit of the Marriott complaints on here. With a ticking midfield he would have broken records with the form he had this season. But we certainly need another decent striker, at least to cover him when he's injured if nothing else. Kelvin isn't that.

Not sure he would of broken many records with his dodgy hamstring.

[Hound]

Hope neither Savage nor Wing leave. It wasn't their best season, but they are great players at this level and you can't help but think their disappointing performances had more to do with the style of play we adopted, and the incomplete feeling the midfield has had.

Same in response to a bit of the Marriott complaints on here. With a ticking midfield he would have broken records with the form he had this season. But we certainly need another decent striker, at least to cover him when he's injured if nothing else. Kelvin isn't that.

Not sure he would of broken many records with his dodgy hamstring.

Same midfield which has been supplying Kelvin? Kelvin has done ok, scored a reasonable amount of goals in a not very good side, when playing out of his regular position . Shame he tailed off like the rest of the side last 4/5 games

[West F]

Kelvin has a Rashford complex. He does not want to play through the middle and prefers to play wide from the left cutting in to score worldies. This has been his modus operandi for three seasons. He is marginally better on the left flank than Mamadi Camara. I expect he will be talking to his team this summer about getting a loan move to the Nou Camp next season.

[Hound]

Kelvin has a Rashford complex. He does not want to play through the middle and prefers to play wide from the left cutting in to score worldies. This has been his modus operandi for three seasons. He is marginally better on the left flank than Mamadi Camara. I expect he will be talking to his team this summer about getting a loan move to the Nou Camp next season.

This is based on what?

[West F]

Kelvin has a Rashford complex. He does not want to play through the middle and prefers to play wide from the left cutting in to score worldies. This has been his modus operandi for three seasons. He is marginally better on the left flank than Mamadi Camara. I expect he will be talking to his team this summer about getting a loan move to the Nou Camp next season.

This is based on what?

Him saying he doesn’t like playing through the middle or from the right, and wanting to play from the left while under Seles. This was exactly the same as Rashford’s statement at the time when Man Utd were lacking a viable central striker role.
It is why I don’t waste time believing that he will ‘kick on’ in a central striker role. This is who he is as a player. His consistency is his inconsistency. His goal record for the season, whether playing from the left or up top is broadly what you would expect from any wide player or central midfielder. His play with his back to goal as a striker is poor because that is not his game. In other words, he is not an option to replace Marriot, he is a last and only resort following the frankly bizarre decision to let Wareham go to Excreter on a free.

[Hound]

Kelvin has a Rashford complex. He does not want to play through the middle and prefers to play wide from the left cutting in to score worldies. This has been his modus operandi for three seasons. He is marginally better on the left flank than Mamadi Camara. I expect he will be talking to his team this summer about getting a loan move to the Nou Camp next season.

This is based on what?

Him saying he doesn’t like playing through the middle or from the right, and wanting to play from the left while under Seles. This was exactly the same as Rashford’s statement at the time when Man Utd were lacking a viable central striker role.
It is why I don’t waste time believing that he will ‘kick on’ in a central striker role. This is who he is as a player. His consistency is his inconsistency. His goal record for the season, whether playing from the left or up top is broadly what you would expect from any wide player or central midfielder. His play with his back to goal as a striker is poor because that is not his game. In other words, he is not an option to replace Marriot, he is a last and only resort following the frankly bizarre decision to let Wareham go to Excreter on a free.

I can’t remember him saying that but fair enough.

And that’s what he is really - not ideal to replace Marriott but he stepped up and has done an ok to good job. Very good in March and then fallen back along with the rest of the team

I’d prefer him left wing also.

Also why Marriott wasn’t a great signing - never going to be able to play full games all season and MoM was a dreadful back up, then Keane also been poor.

Fully agree on Wareham. Showed enough last year to make an effort to keep. Fit, strong and hungry

[West F]

This is based on what?

Him saying he doesn’t like playing through the middle or from the right, and wanting to play from the left while under Seles. This was exactly the same as Rashford’s statement at the time when Man Utd were lacking a viable central striker role.
It is why I don’t waste time believing that he will ‘kick on’ in a central striker role. This is who he is as a player. His consistency is his inconsistency. His goal record for the season, whether playing from the left or up top is broadly what you would expect from any wide player or central midfielder. His play with his back to goal as a striker is poor because that is not his game. In other words, he is not an option to replace Marriot, he is a last and only resort following the frankly bizarre decision to let Wareham go to Excreter on a free.

I can’t remember him saying that but fair enough.

And that’s what he is really - not ideal to replace Marriott but he stepped up and has done an ok to good job. Very good in March and then fallen back along with the rest of the team

I’d prefer him left wing also.

Also why Marriott wasn’t a great signing - never going to be able to play full games all season and MoM was a dreadful back up, then Keane also been poor.

Fully agree on Wareham. Showed enough last year to make an effort to keep. Fit, strong and hungry

Wareham will be a better striker next season than he was last season. Imagine a world where he was learning from Marriot at Reading. I don’t know all the ins and outs behind his leaving. But, it looks as though he was moved on to allow Noel to bring in MOM. A decision that ultimately may have cost Noel his job.
I don’t have an issue with either Marriot or Kelvin as players. Marriot’s issues are obvious and Kelvin will always be an enigmatic player, being either momentarily sublime or mostly frustrating. It is actually on the manager to manage these issue effectively in the best interests of the team.
In the way that Dorsett fills in at left back, i see Kelvin filling in up front. Managing Marriot’s minutes next season will be imperative to prolonging his career, not only with us but in general. If you wanted to profile exactly who that player would be to lead the line without upsetting the balance of the team, it is probably Wareham. My nightmare scenario is Excreter being relegated and Wareham turning up at Oxford.
Patton is at the moment the only viable option to rest Marriot. This allows Kelvin to play off the left, and knowing Richardson’s football ethic, he would value his height defending set pieces.

[Whore Jackie]

Suspect Noel had higher ambitions than MOM, but a combination of slower than expected takeover and Wareham's belief that he should be a number one striker, led to him leaving. There'll definitely be no shortage of takers should Exeter go down.

[Hound]

Him saying he doesn’t like playing through the middle or from the right, and wanting to play from the left while under Seles. This was exactly the same as Rashford’s statement at the time when Man Utd were lacking a viable central striker role.
It is why I don’t waste time believing that he will ‘kick on’ in a central striker role. This is who he is as a player. His consistency is his inconsistency. His goal record for the season, whether playing from the left or up top is broadly what you would expect from any wide player or central midfielder. His play with his back to goal as a striker is poor because that is not his game. In other words, he is not an option to replace Marriot, he is a last and only resort following the frankly bizarre decision to let Wareham go to Excreter on a free.

I can’t remember him saying that but fair enough.

And that’s what he is really - not ideal to replace Marriott but he stepped up and has done an ok to good job. Very good in March and then fallen back along with the rest of the team

I’d prefer him left wing also.

Also why Marriott wasn’t a great signing - never going to be able to play full games all season and MoM was a dreadful back up, then Keane also been poor.

Fully agree on Wareham. Showed enough last year to make an effort to keep. Fit, strong and hungry

Wareham will be a better striker next season than he was last season. Imagine a world where he was learning from Marriot at Reading. I don’t know all the ins and outs behind his leaving. But, it looks as though he was moved on to allow Noel to bring in MOM. A decision that ultimately may have cost Noel his job.
I don’t have an issue with either Marriot or Kelvin as players. Marriot’s issues are obvious and Kelvin will always be an enigmatic player, being either momentarily sublime or mostly frustrating. It is actually on the manager to manage these issue effectively in the best interests of the team.
In the way that Dorsett fills in at left back, i see Kelvin filling in up front. Managing Marriot’s minutes next season will be imperative to prolonging his career, not only with us but in general. If you wanted to profile exactly who that player would be to lead the line without upsetting the balance of the team, it is probably Wareham. My nightmare scenario is Excreter being relegated and Wareham turning up at Oxford.
Patton is at the moment the only viable option to rest Marriot. This allows Kelvin to play off the left, and knowing Richardson’s football ethic, he would value his height defending set pieces.

100% agree on all of that

[Hound]

Well sounds like Doyle isn’t coming back…

[Clyde1998]

Him saying he doesn’t like playing through the middle or from the right, and wanting to play from the left while under Seles. This was exactly the same as Rashford’s statement at the time when Man Utd were lacking a viable central striker role.
It is why I don’t waste time believing that he will ‘kick on’ in a central striker role. This is who he is as a player. His consistency is his inconsistency. His goal record for the season, whether playing from the left or up top is broadly what you would expect from any wide player or central midfielder. His play with his back to goal as a striker is poor because that is not his game. In other words, he is not an option to replace Marriot, he is a last and only resort following the frankly bizarre decision to let Wareham go to Excreter on a free.

I can’t remember him saying that but fair enough.

And that’s what he is really - not ideal to replace Marriott but he stepped up and has done an ok to good job. Very good in March and then fallen back along with the rest of the team

I’d prefer him left wing also.

Also why Marriott wasn’t a great signing - never going to be able to play full games all season and MoM was a dreadful back up, then Keane also been poor.

Fully agree on Wareham. Showed enough last year to make an effort to keep. Fit, strong and hungry

Wareham will be a better striker next season than he was last season. Imagine a world where he was learning from Marriot at Reading. I don’t know all the ins and outs behind his leaving. But, it looks as though he was moved on to allow Noel to bring in MOM. A decision that ultimately may have cost Noel his job.
I don’t have an issue with either Marriot or Kelvin as players. Marriot’s issues are obvious and Kelvin will always be an enigmatic player, being either momentarily sublime or mostly frustrating. It is actually on the manager to manage these issue effectively in the best interests of the team.
In the way that Dorsett fills in at left back, i see Kelvin filling in up front. Managing Marriot’s minutes next season will be imperative to prolonging his career, not only with us but in general. If you wanted to profile exactly who that player would be to lead the line without upsetting the balance of the team, it is probably Wareham. My nightmare scenario is Excreter being relegated and Wareham turning up at Oxford.
Patton is at the moment the only viable option to rest Marriot. This allows Kelvin to play off the left, and knowing Richardson’s football ethic, he would value his height defending set pieces.

Wareham rejected a contract extension here:

We are delighted to announce the signing of 22-year-old forward Jayden Wareham from Reading on a two-year-contract, subject to EFL approval.

Following the expiration of his contract at the Berkshire side, Wareham rejected a new deal and has opted to join the Grecians for an undisclosed compensation fee. The club also have the opportunity to exercise a further optional year within his contract.

From what I've heard, it was a matter of likely game time which had the biggest impact on his decision. Exeter offered him a regular starting slot, whereas we didn't.

[West F]

Well sounds like Doyle isn’t coming back…

Don’t blame him. Anyway, he lacks the height to defend set pieces in the box.

[West F]

I can’t remember him saying that but fair enough.

And that’s what he is really - not ideal to replace Marriott but he stepped up and has done an ok to good job. Very good in March and then fallen back along with the rest of the team

I’d prefer him left wing also.

Also why Marriott wasn’t a great signing - never going to be able to play full games all season and MoM was a dreadful back up, then Keane also been poor.

Fully agree on Wareham. Showed enough last year to make an effort to keep. Fit, strong and hungry

Wareham will be a better striker next season than he was last season. Imagine a world where he was learning from Marriot at Reading. I don’t know all the ins and outs behind his leaving. But, it looks as though he was moved on to allow Noel to bring in MOM. A decision that ultimately may have cost Noel his job.
I don’t have an issue with either Marriot or Kelvin as players. Marriot’s issues are obvious and Kelvin will always be an enigmatic player, being either momentarily sublime or mostly frustrating. It is actually on the manager to manage these issue effectively in the best interests of the team.
In the way that Dorsett fills in at left back, i see Kelvin filling in up front. Managing Marriot’s minutes next season will be imperative to prolonging his career, not only with us but in general. If you wanted to profile exactly who that player would be to lead the line without upsetting the balance of the team, it is probably Wareham. My nightmare scenario is Excreter being relegated and Wareham turning up at Oxford.
Patton is at the moment the only viable option to rest Marriot. This allows Kelvin to play off the left, and knowing Richardson’s football ethic, he would value his height defending set pieces.

Wareham rejected a contract extension here:

We are delighted to announce the signing of 22-year-old forward Jayden Wareham from Reading on a two-year-contract, subject to EFL approval.

Following the expiration of his contract at the Berkshire side, Wareham rejected a new deal and has opted to join the Grecians for an undisclosed compensation fee. The club also have the opportunity to exercise a further optional year within his contract.

From what I've heard, it was a matter of likely game time which had the biggest impact on his decision. Exeter offered him a regular starting slot, whereas we didn't.

Which was odd considering he was the only striker at the club at the time.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

I'm intrigued as to how much player trading we will need to do to balance the books....

To the end of March, Club accounts report a +£1M positive Transfer balance....

Last season, the accounts show a +£9.5M positive Transfer balance leading to an overall Loss of £3.8M...

I can't believe Transfer profits will be of that magnitude....

But even if it's half that figure, that means £4M of player sales by the end of June will be needed for the Accounts to register them in 25/26...

[Hound]

Wareham will be a better striker next season than he was last season. Imagine a world where he was learning from Marriot at Reading. I don’t know all the ins and outs behind his leaving. But, it looks as though he was moved on to allow Noel to bring in MOM. A decision that ultimately may have cost Noel his job.
I don’t have an issue with either Marriot or Kelvin as players. Marriot’s issues are obvious and Kelvin will always be an enigmatic player, being either momentarily sublime or mostly frustrating. It is actually on the manager to manage these issue effectively in the best interests of the team.
In the way that Dorsett fills in at left back, i see Kelvin filling in up front. Managing Marriot’s minutes next season will be imperative to prolonging his career, not only with us but in general. If you wanted to profile exactly who that player would be to lead the line without upsetting the balance of the team, it is probably Wareham. My nightmare scenario is Excreter being relegated and Wareham turning up at Oxford.
Patton is at the moment the only viable option to rest Marriot. This allows Kelvin to play off the left, and knowing Richardson’s football ethic, he would value his height defending set pieces.

Wareham rejected a contract extension here:

We are delighted to announce the signing of 22-year-old forward Jayden Wareham from Reading on a two-year-contract, subject to EFL approval.

Following the expiration of his contract at the Berkshire side, Wareham rejected a new deal and has opted to join the Grecians for an undisclosed compensation fee. The club also have the opportunity to exercise a further optional year within his contract.

From what I've heard, it was a matter of likely game time which had the biggest impact on his decision. Exeter offered him a regular starting slot, whereas we didn't.

Which was odd considering he was the only striker at the club at the time.

From what was suggested, he was offered a year here on a deal which represented a reserve striker wage. So likely the same wage as he was on

So yes he was offered a deal but at the same time not with any real conviction to keep him. I’ve no doubt had a decent 2 year deal been offered he’d have snapped it up immediately. Not like Exeter will be paying a lot

[stealthpapes]

I wish we'd get rid of Kelvin. I am sick of his inconsistency, his generally lethargy and most often than not, his just inability to do anything on the pitch. Granted he doesn't often get much service, but he just looks so lackluster most of the time

I guess the coaches at Rangers and Liverpool thought that they could make a consistent player out of Ejaria and the same for a while at Reading.

It feels the same with Big Kelvin.
In the previous 2 seasons he has come up with the odd amazing goal after dribbling past 2 or 3 players and it left us all feeling that there is the prospect of a top player there.

This season however, partly I suppose because of where and how he has been played we haven't seen that spark and goals have been hard to come by.
A coach some day, somewhere may get the best out of him on a consistent basis but I agree with the poster it might well be best for the player and the club for him to move.
We then bring in the bigger target man that feels necessary for a 3rd division or Championship side to build an attacking structure around, a Senior, a Dixon or a Kitson or a Roberts.

With that type of player on board the jobs of other players become clearer-wide men getting to the bye line and crossing for example whereas with Kelvin in the line-up it feels a bit hap hazard.

I also believe that if we are to have a stab at promotion then Yiadom and Dorsett have to be replaced and upgraded upon.

Statement in bold there.

League games only.
2023-24 Played 40 scored 5
2024-25 Played 33 scored 4
2025-26 Played 36 scored 9

This last season is, by some way, his most productive in terms of goals.

Now, it is because it boils down to a run of 6 games where he had to go up top and he scored a hat-trick and a brace. But look at those goals and they're the sort of strikers goals he needs to score slightly more regularly.