Michael Tait and Ian Graham celebrate Blyth's second goal against Telford. Two more followed.

Blog: Well we didn’t see that coming.

Just when it looked like the AFC Telford United train was gathering steam, the brakes were firmly applied by defeats away to Northwich Victoria and Blyth Spartans.

That is surely that for the playoffs.

Even though a win on Tuesday night will be enough to push Telford back into fifth place, it would be nothing more than a false position. We’re just too inconsistent enough to mount a serious challenge.

Aside from the five game unbeaten run earlier this month, there have been no real signs of promotion form and teams don’t lose 12 games by March, as Telford have done, and get promoted.

The optimists among the Bucks Head faithful will point to a winnable run of fixtures in the next few weeks. But that’s a story we’ve heard all too often this season. Yes, on paper the games are winnable but football isn’t played on paper. It’s played on grass. And on the turf this season the Bucks haven’t been up to scratch.

So let’s look to next season and what we need to put on our summer shopping list.

Wingers would be top of my list. It seems Danny Edwards has played his last game for the club and the jury remains out on Sean Evans – though it appears Rob Smith and Larry Chambers don’t fancy him. Phil Trainer and Jon Adams are far more comfortable in the centre so at least one flying wide man is surely a must.

Regardless of what formation the Bucks play, a quality winger would be a valuable asset. If they are not in the starting eleven then the impact of a speed merchant coming off the bench and running at tired defenders is an option that would bring a whole new dimension to Telford’s play.

Higher up the pitch Andy Brown is one of the best strikers in the league – this term he’s just needed a bit more service and a bit more luck. Steve Thompson was finally beginning to look dangerous before his recent injury, Damian Reeves knows this level inside out, and Danny Carey-Bertam hasn’t become a bad player overnight. Those four are capable of getting the goals for a promotion push.

Defensively a settled back line will go much further to reducing the goals against column than more upheaval will. If Adam Dugdale signs beyond the summer and we can hang onto Shane Killock and Lee Vaughan then we will have five top quality defenders.

However, I think we need to sign a goalkeeper. Don’t get me wrong, Ryan Young is one of the best in the business and I’m not thinking for one minute of replacing him, but an increase in competition will do two things. It will ensure competition for places meaning Ryan won’t rest on his laurels, and give us an option if he picked up an injury.

Let’s learn the lessons of this season and try and retain a settled squad rather than the merry-go-round of players we’ve witnessed this term. The squad is good enough; it doesn’t need overhauling, more of a fine tune.

Of course the $64,000 dollar question is who should be the manager in charge of the tweaking?

By Alex James