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Smith: Tooting still learning (From Surrey Comet)
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Smith: Tooting still learning
10:04am Monday 8th March 2010
Billy Smith admits he is still getting to grips with the best formation for his Tooting & Mitcham side despite his near 50 years experience in the game.
The Terrors ended their recent barren spell in impressive style at the weekend, employing the sweeper system and earning a 2-1 win at play-off rivals Horsham.
And Smith reckons there may be more tinkering to come.
He said: “The thing in football is to learn all the time and never think you know everything.
“At Carshalton last week we were murdered by their front two so I realised I needed to switch things around a bit.
“At Horsham I went with a sweeper and we looked a lot more comfortable.
“Having Matt York as sweeper allows the full-backs to get forward and everybody feels more secure with what is going on at the back.
“That may be the plan going forward but the key is to take each game as it comes and try to learn from it.”
Paul Vines grabbed both Tooting goals as the Terrors fired themselves back into top-five contention.
And Smith felt it was a fully-deserved three points.
He added: “I thought we could have won by more to be honest.
“Paul was back in form - he had a bit of a dry spell recently but that happens to the best of strikers.
“It was a great win and gives our play-off hopes a big boost.”
The Terrors faced bottom-of-the-table Margate on Tuesday night, and this weekend host table-topping Dartford.
But despite their exploits so far this campaign the Tooting boss is refusing to get carried away.
Smith added: “I don’t think we can say this season has been a success as we are not safe yet.
“Looking at the table I’m not even sure 50 points will keep you up which is crazy.
“But we keep on going and take each game as it comes and see where that takes us.”
Tooting & Mitcham’s next three matches: Mar 13 Dartford (h), 16 Waltham Abbey (a), 20 Canvey Island (a)
More Tooting & Mitcham stories
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- Goode commits to Tooting
- Tooting's Beard eyes FA Trophy repeat
- Tooting striker eager to make his mark
- Beard: Tooting plans coming together
- Haworth relishing Tooting captaincy
- Beard hails Tooting's German sensation
- Beard plots squad overhaul at Tooting
- Dons legend joins Beard at Tooting
- Beckford backs Beard at Tooting
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Ted Parsons, Colchester says...
5:49pm Tue 9 Mar 10
the jitters and teams at the bottom end of the table become the ones to fear, they play with the nothing to loose attitude.
If our lads keep their focus I predict not only a play off place but promotion I’d like to think we’ve come out of our bad patch and with Paul (our best centre forward since Paddy Hasty and as somebody recently said is far from his sell by date) back in form he has enough time to get himself back as one of the league’s top scorers.
A couple of goals from Paul against Margate on Tuesday and it will be a case of a “Rising tide lifting all boats” and with “Dartford” who have nothing else to play for could on Saturday drown in our tidal wave, with Wealdstone and Hornchurch joining them.
COME ON TOOTING!