Blog: Solid start but something missing for AFC Telford

Is it confidence? Motivation? Belief? Or something a little less obvious?

At the time of writing, we are 17 games in and find ourselves 10th out of 24, seven points off the play-off spots and six points above the drop zone.

We have beaten two sides below us in the league at home and two of the three sides we have beaten on our travels currently sit in the top six. We boast an average 1.7 goals per game scored, opposed to 1.4 goals per game conceded.

Away from home, we seem to be tighter defensively, conceding nine goals in eight games, compared to 15 against in nine matches at the New Bucks Head. You're guaranteed to see a few goals at home!

Having said all that, I personally cannot help but feel we could and should be higher up the table.

We have created so many more goal scoring opportunities already in this opening part of the season, than we managed in the whole of last season and I am certain that we have a vastly improved squad to last season.

Something still seems to be missing though and that's where the question of motivation, confidence or something a little less obvious comes in.

We don't seem to have the self belief to be able to go out there and really put teams to the sword. We get our noses in front, then seem to freeze.

Yes, we now have the belief that if we fall a goal behind it doesn't necessarily mean we can wave goodbye to any points, but we don't seem to be able to go out and dominate games. Are the players scared to over-commit, as they pour forward in search of goals?

Instead we seem to drop off, sit deep and absorb pressure, resorting to big lumps down field.

The motivation of the players against the former football league teams doesn't seem to be a problem - some of our best results and performances have come against these teams.

The so called lesser lights that, if I take my rose tinted spectacles off, include ourselves in this league – they are the ones that pose us the most problems.

The reason football is so great is because if we knew immediately how to rectify the wrongs, we would all be football managers. Shrewsbury wouldn't have been humbled by Hereford in the FA Cup last weekend and Man City wouldn't be sitting at the bottom of their Champions League group.

What I do know is that we make the trip down the A5 into Staffordshire to take on our local rivals Tamworth on Saturday. They sit a couple of places below us in the league, a point worse off, with a game more played.

Under Marcus Law, they are an improving side. Their front line is led by the impressive Adam Cunnington and ex-Buck Duane Courtney features regularly at right-back. This game sees two quite evenly matched sides, that with typical local derby pride at the stake, will go at the game with vigour and verve, intent on putting three points on the board.

Let's get down there, support the boys and put Tuesday night's late disappointment behind us.

I'm backing the lads to continue their much improved away form and have my fingers cautiously crossed for a change in home fortunes also. Sooner, rather than later, please.

C'mon Telford!