A Career In Detail - Tubey's Odyssey

ggod luck mate with it

Plus 4 relegation places and a playout place (iirc) make it a tough league for a relegation battle.

Good luck with this - cant wait to see how your season goes

Good luck bud!

See if you can get Pablo Cunago, he'll probably be a beast at your level, if a little inconsistent.

ggod luck mate with it

Thanks

Plus 4 relegation places and a playout place (iirc) make it a tough league for a relegation battle.

Yeah no room for error really. Very tough league to get up from as well.

Good luck with this - cant wait to see how your season goes

Good luck bud!

Cheers

See if you can get Pablo Cunago, he'll probably be a beast at your level, if a little inconsistent.

He's already been signed I'm working out the last of my pre-season wheelings and dealings now so should be able to update in an hour or so.

Linense 3-1 San Roque - Second Division B4, Game 1.

We start the season at home, and new boy Daud sets about impressing immediately as he puts in Hernandez to give us the lead on 13 minutes. It seems to motivate San Roque who attack down the other end and left-back Sarasolo has to head off the line to save the instant equaliser.

On the half hour mark, Daud and Hernandez once again combine but the Somalian blazes his shot over the bar.

Just before half time, a sucker punch. Adriano free-kick, drifted to the far post and Sergio rises to power in the equaliser.

But another piece of drama on the whistle! Ocana takes a corner, smashed in low and Chico is there to slide home to put us ahead before the interval. A half time lead for the home side!

San Sebastien keeps us ahead for the opening period of the second half, before Juampe dives down the right wing on the counter, a devilish ball towards the penalty spot and Chico is there to thunder home a header whilst running at pace to make it 3-1 on 76 minutes.

Kouadio sends a placed shot just wide before the final whistle, but it doesn't matter. The opening game of the season results in three points for Linense!

Melilia 1-2 Linense - Spanish Cup 1st Round

The bookies have us as 10/1 outsiders for this tie, but we start out as the dominant side. Debutant Melchor has the best chance of the first half as he dives behind the defence, but smashes his shot straight at the 'keeper.

Juampe is proving to be a bit of a specialist with the crossing game, as he puts a ball straight on Melchors head early in the second half, but he puts it over.

Daud and Melchor both go close as the hour mark approaches, before Daud gets the goal his performances thus far this season deserved, pouncing on a rebound from a Juampe shot to squeeze the ball into an empty net from a narrow angle.

Daud has a second disallowed for offside - half a yard at best, superb cross from Sarasolo though - before Juampe skips down the left and sends a low ball across the six yard box which Daud turns in. It's been a sensational performance from the new Somalian international.

Futre grabs one back in injury time for Melilia, a debut goal for him, however it isn't enough to change the outcome. Linense secure a big win against the second favourites for promotion from Second Division B4.

Cacareno 1-2 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 2

Once again, the bookies write us off, but this time they appear right to do so after the home side dominate the opening proceedings.

However, 20 minutes in, Francis clears a Cacareno attack and Hernandez bursts free, runs in on goal and it's a delightful chip over the 'keeper to give Linense the shock lead.

36 minutes in, Hernandez wins a race against Carrizosa, outmuscles him and tries to place the shot into the far corner but it runs agonisingly wide.

Half time arrives, and we hold a narrow 1-0 lead. Cacareno are dominating, but we look dangerous on the counter.

It only takes 49 seconds of the second half for the equaliser to arrive. Jaraiz sends in a dangerous cross which Jerez meets with a perfect volley into the top corner.

A series of substitutions just past the hour mark sees Daud moved to the left wing, and it pays dividends! He robs the ball, cuts in, unleashes a shot, well saved but sub right winger Bello is there to tap home the rebound! 2-1, and a fantastic recovery from the early set back in the second half.

Suddenly, Cacareno lay siege to us again. Douadio clears two off the line as the equaliser looks inevitable, but Linense hang on and continue our 100% record against all the odds!

[video=youtube;w9tATRNB-Ek]

David Hernandez's lovely chipped opener against Cacareno.

Linense 5-1 Albacete - Spanish Cup 2nd Round

An immensely difficult tie against an established Spanish outfit awaited us in the 2nd round, but an outstanding performance from David Hernandez dispelled all pre-match predictions as the striker went on to score an astonishing four goals, including one spectacular free-kick curled into the top corner.

A de la Cuesta own goal wrapped up proceedings, with Noguerol grabbing the consolation for a desperately disappointing Albacete.

Third round, here we come!

Linense 1-0 CF La Union - Second Division B4, Game 3

The first game we have actually been favourites for, and billed by the media as a relegation six pointer. Surprisingly, we started badly, with La Union the much stronger side in the first half.

The second half saw us coming into the game more, but the goal appeared elusive as Daud and Hernandez had offdays. However, the winner arrived in the last minute of injury time, as Sarasolo's cross-come-shot was parried away by the 'keeper straight into the path of substitute Melchor who put away his first goal for Linense.

Melilia 2-3 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 4

Melilia are top contenders for this league, and will be looking for revenge for the 1st Round knockout from the Spanish Cup we inflicted on then a few weeks ago.

The hosts absolutely dominate the first half in terms of possession, but fail to create any clear cut chances as the Linense defence holds on to a 0-0 draw at half-time.

It couldn't last forever, and Melilia finally got the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half. Mahamat attempted a looping shot from the edge of the area which San Sebastien in goal makes a hash of and it falls into the net. Disappointing.

Luckily, we have a striker on fire at the other end, and once again it's David Hernandez to the rescue five minutes later, as he latches on to an incisive Kouadio through ball to level the game.

76 minutes, and we take advantage of a spell of concerted pressure to take the lead. Midfielder Ocana steps into the attack, picks the ball up on the edge of the box and slides the ball beyond the 'keeper to grab his first of the season.

The lead was to last all of two minutes. Straight up the other end, Mahamat sends a delicious cross straight onto the head of Velasco who plants it beyond the 'keeper - no chance of keeping that out, 2-2.

The winner is all due to one man. David Hernandez is shoved in the box with five minutes left, he gets himself up and smashes in the penalty to give us an amazing 3-2 win and maintain our unlikely 100% record.

Linense 4-0 Almeria "B" - Second Division B4, Game 5

After the drama of the last game, a nice return to Municipal with what is on paper an easy game against Almeria "B" - compared to the sides we've beaten already anyway!

And it's proven to be the case. The game is over by half time as Kouadio, Hernandez and Bello wrap in three quick fire goals before 35 minutes have been played.

Almeria offered very little in terms of an attacking display at all in this game, and Daud wrapped up an excellent performance in the 89th minute.

Five league games, five wins, two cup wins, top of the league - everything is looking superb right now.

Very comfortable there. I know you'll have playoffs as a best case scenario but survival's not a worry for now.

Very comfortable there. I know you'll have playoffs as a best case scenario but survival's not a worry for now.

It's looking good. It's weird as there are a few games we've been definitively second best in, but teams aren't converting chances whilst we are! If we can wrap up thirty points inside fourteen games, we're obviously safe, so I'm looking to continue this good form for as long as possible.

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Lorca At. 2-2 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 6

The 100% win streak is over, but it could have been a whole lot worse.

Lorca took the game to us straight from the off and opened up a deserved two goal lead, as it looked as if our luck had finally run out - two well taken finishes by Juanjo and Juanmi seemed like it put the game out of sight inside 26 minutes.

Luckily, the two early goals gave us time to recover, and after a rollicking team talk at half time, Linense went about setting things straight.

Melchor smashed one back 30 seconds after the restart. Injuries had meant that the loanee was starting in an unfamiliar attacking midfield role but he stepped up to the task and buried a 20 yard effort to put us back in the game.

Then shortly after the hour mark, after a switch to 4-4-2 which saw Melchor take up his natural striker position, he put away his second after a loose ball in the box was pounced upon and he smashed in from 10 yards.

The attempt for the winner in the remaining half hour was in vain, but after the start we made it's one point gained rather than two points lost, and we retain our position at the top of the league after half a dozen games.

Linense 6-1 Cadiz - Second Division B4, Game 7

When I looked at the league and the fixture list, Cadiz were the team I feared. Favourites to win the league outright, I expected a major drubbing off them both home and away.

However, it didn't happen - in fact, the exact opposite happened, in one of the more surprising results I've ever seen on Football Manager.

Ocana gave us the unexpected lead after just 10 minutes, with a well placed effort after a lovely knockdown from Romerito. The lead wasn't to last long, when 15 minutes in an own goal from Martin Diaz put Cadiz back on level terms.

Cadiz then proceeded to absolutely batter us for half an hour, and it was a relief to go into half time level.

However, the second half was an entirely different story. Right from the offset, Linense set about decimating the much more fancied visitors. Ayub Daud pounced on a great cross by Juampe to put us 2-1 ahead after 52 minutes. David Hernandez converted a Sarasolo cross with a volley right in front of the 'keeper to extend the lead to 3-1 on the hour mark. Auliesta comically headed a Sarasolo cross beyond his own 'keeper on 76 minutes to make it 4-1, before David Hernandez grabbed his second with a close range effort on 80 minutes.

The icing on the cake was an awful own goal from Goikoetxea who planted a header into his own goal when attempting to clear a corner on 86 minutes.

Overall, Cadiz had more possession, and had multiple good chances in the first half which could have won the game inside 30 minutes. They didn't, and the end result was a spectacular win for Linense, who move three points clear at the top.

Linense 5-3 Marino - Spanish Cup 3rd Round

I'm not placing any emphasis whatsoever on the Spanish Cup, and I wouldn't mind being eliminated.

However, I'm forced to play a first team here due to the squad being all of 21 players in total, and 24 seconds in we take the lead. Daud is the scorer, after the ball was worked from left to right from Juampe and David Hernandez.

Marino are performing badly in Second Division B1 and the opening quarter of an hour shows why - they are dreadful.

But complacency set in. 20 minutes in, Delgado swings in a corner and Rives rises at the far post to nod in.

We've been weak at set piece defending and we need to improve that side of our game.

Five minutes later, Diaz brings down Hermes and it's a penalty for Marino. And it's Hermes who converts it to give Marino the surprise lead.

Well, for all of 60 seconds anyway. Romerito with a slide rule pass on for the run of Juampe, who runs in from the left to get on the end of it and slide it beyond the 'keeper with the help of a deflection at the near post.

Half time, 2-2, and straight away in the second half Juampe shows wonderful composure to jink past Alex Garcia, the Marino centre-half, before calmly sliding the ball beyond the 'keeper. 3-2 to Linense.

Juampe turned provider next. It's a wonderful left footed cross, straight across the six yard box and once again Daud plants it in first time at the far post.

60 seconds later, it's 5-2 and we assure progression to the 4th round as Daud is unleashed down the right, first time whipped in cross, and David Hernandez converts a volley.

Time for another Marino goal though, and once again it's awful set piece defending. Prendes with the corner, and Alex Garcia has an unmarked header from six yards out. This really needs sorting out.

And that's that! An eight goal "thriller" but in reality, as I didn't care about the outcome, it wasn't the spectacle it appeared to be on paper. But it's another win, and the momentum continues. Still unbeaten!

UPDATE: Spanish Cup 4th Round Draw - LINENSE vs. Valencia

Villanueva 1-0 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 8

The media have jumped on the bandwagon and classed us as favourites for this away game.

And it seems like the kiss of death, as San Sebastian makes another howler to gift Villanueva the lead. He fails to catch a simple cross and simply deflects it into his own net. Awful. Immediately substituted for substitute 'keeper Pagola.

It's an awful half of football and we enter the half time break a goal down.

And the second half is exactly the same. We lacked the pace and flair we've shown in attack in other games, and the game peters out to a poor 1-0 loss. We missed the influence of Ayub Daud today, as he was on international duty with Somalia.

The 100% record falls in a tepid fashion. But we're still top by two points - let's see how long that lasts!

Linense 4-3 Jaen - Second Division B4, Game 9

Jaen are a solid outfit and will pose a challenge as we look to get back to winning ways, however we're at home and we have the returning Daud in the side so I fancy our chances.

That said, fitness is a problem at the moment, with tired players and four injuries, including the influential Kouadio.

And it's an awful start. 50 seconds in, and Jaen take the lead with a sweet strike from outside the box from Nevado.

It took us 10 minutes to get out of first gear, but we did eventually get in the game. 17 minutes in, the equaliser arrived. Ball into feet for Hernandez, a superb layoff for the run of Daud who strokes the ball in. Wonderfully worked goal!

34 minutes in, and we go ahead thanks to a comical goal. Regino, our makeshift centre-half right-back, curls a wonderful shot on goal which beats the 'keeper and strikes the post, comes back, hits the 'keeper Manu (OG) on the back and trickles across the line.

Five minutes later, it's 3-1. Daud and Juampe have resumed their excellent wing partnership, with the Somalian crossing for the diving header of his colleague.

The difference Daud has made to our play is amazing!

Just before the interval, Hernandez shields the ball then picks out a lovely pass for Juampe, but he is hauled back deliberately by Raul Gaitan who is sent off for the professional foul. Jaen down to 10 men, and surely that's three points assured.

Well, not quite. Second half, Javi Lopez sends in a corner and ONCE AGAIN we fail to mark properly from a set piece - free header for Chupe to make it 3-2.

And five minutes later they're level! Corner again! This time Cascon benefits from a poor headed clearance to poke home the equaliser.

Disaster late on as Daud picks up an injury. Cannot afford for that to be frank.

Oh!!! 81st minute, just as the game looks to be petering out to a draw, and we go 4-3 up! Francis slides in for Regino who spins, turns and shoots low beyond the 'keeper! Didn't see that coming!

Juampe has a chance to wrap it up late on, but we hang on regardless for the 4-3 win. We made a meal out of that, but a win is a win, and I'm hoping Daud's injury isn't as bad as I fear.

Puertollano 0-0 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 10

The hosts today have lost five of their first nine games and are hovering just above the relegation zone on eight points. Whereas we are sixteen points off the drop and head the league table. And that's why I'm fearing an upset here.

Dauds injury is not too serious and whilst he misses todays clash he should be back before too long, but we will miss Martin Diaz, a decent centre-half, for six months due to a torn calf muscle.

It's an even start to the game, before Puertollano began to string stuff together and control possession as the half progresses. Santacruz cannoned a free kick against the bar in the most dramatic moment of the half, but it remains goalless.

And despite a few chances in the second half, that's how it stays! A goalless affair, but one we didn't deserve to win or lose, so a fair result.

So I have to be happy with that! The last few games haven't had the fluency of earlier games, but we're still grinding out results and after 10 games we're top of the tree - whereas at the start of the season if someone had offered me 8th at this stage I'd have snatched their hands off!

David Hernandez has been the star, with 12 goals in 13 appearances. Ayub Daud is the other talisman, with 7 goals and 5 assists in 11 games. And a shout out to the other cornerstone of our attacking triangle, the left winger Juampe. He was already at the club when I arrived, and despite my misgivings about his ability he has laid on 5 goals and scored 3 in 10 appearances.

However, injuries can set in at any time and if I lose Hernandez and Daud for any extending period of time then we could be well and truly buggered. So I'm crossing my fingers as we progress through season one in the Spanish lower leagues!

Linense 4-1 Villanovense - Second Division B4, Game 11

A home game for the top club against the bottom club. On paper, a walkover, given our form and that we have a returning Ayub Daud to give me my preferred attacking trio in full fitness leading the line.

However, we were certs for relegation so it'd be stupid to take this as a certain win.

That said, Juampe gets us off to a super start, latching on a to a low Daud cross to volley in. That combination has been dynamite for us this season.

Oliver becomes the latest centre-half to suffer an injury, and suddenly our defence is down to the absolute bare bones.

The second comes after 25 minutes, and is a freak goal. Juampe with a lay back for Sarasolo, first time cross which deflects off the back of Raul Barcos (OG) on the edge of his own area and loops over the despairing dive of the 'keeper.

37 minutes in, and Daud grabs a deserved goal, poking in a rebounded Hernandez shot off the post.

3-0 at half time, soon to be four! Straight after the interval, Ocana with a corner, in to the near post and reserve centre-half Olmo, only getting a game due to injuries, dives in at the near post and scores easily.

This has been every bit as easy as the pre-match form indicated.

And the defender that came on for Oliver is injured himself - Regino goes off, and Melchor - a striker - will play the last 10 minutes as a centre-half.

And sure enough, it's soon 4-1. Moraga is unmarked at the far post for an easy header beyond San Sebastian.

It ends 4-1, a solid home win.

Linense 1-5 Valencia - Spanish Cup 4th Round 1st Leg

An injury ravaged side means players are going to start out of position against a very strong Valencia. I rest Daud, Hernandez and Juampe as there's no point playing them.

Valencia play their reserves, which is still a side that can afford to play David Albelda, Ever Banega, Giovanni Dos Santos and Sergio Canales.

The end result is predictable. One consolation goal via an Olmo header from a delicious Ocana free-kick, but five goals - Dealbert twice, Albelda, Jons and Ricardo Costa - seal comfortable progression to the next round for the big boys.

I'm glad that cup competition is out of the way! Time to concentrate fully on the league...

Oh wait... it's over two legs. FFS!

Betis "B" 3-3 Linense - Second Division B4 Game 12

A very tricky game against a good reserve team. Betis B have some players capable of playing at a higher level than this.

But we start off well! David Hernandez dives in the right channel, cuts back and slides one in across the 'keeper, in off the far post.

We keep that lead till just past the half hour mark, when Damian converts a dangerous cross from Clement. 1-1 at half time, but it soon gets worse. Kike Clement gets the 2nd and 3rd inside 10 minutes to put the hosts 3-1 up and looking comfortable.

But two very timely subs add some life into our badly flagging sides and we pull back from behind. Both subs score - a header from Berga at close range, and with just 10 minutes left Bello scores a beautiful curling effort from just outside the area to secure us what at one stage looked an unlikely point.

Linense 3-2 Cueta - Second Division B4 Game 13

Cueta are promotion contenders and should provide a stern test to our recent unbeaten run in the league.

However, the game is over as a contest inside 13 minutes. Midfielder Regino nets a brace with two low shots in the 6th and 10th minute, before Juampe thundered in a 20 yard effort to give us the early 3-0 lead.

We rode our luck towards the end, however. With fitness levels in the 50% range, Ceuta came back at us and scored an 80th minute goal via the left boot of Segura and another from a corner in the 87th minute - Samu with a near post flick beyond San Sebastian.

But we hold on. Three points secured, and we still hold the top position in the league. More importantly, safety is all but assured as we move to 30 points already.

Valencia 5-0 Linense - Spanish Cup 4th Round 2nd Leg (10-1 on agg.)

Nothing to talk of here. Piatti, Soldado, Maduro and dos Santos twice secure an easy win at the Mestalla.

However, the tie benefited our bank balance immensely. Nearly £1m in the coffers after the two legs!

Roquetas 1-2 Linense - Second Division B4 Game 14

Mid-table Roquetas are a difficult outfit to read and we could struggle to a result here as injuries and fitness become a real issue.

However, the unexpectedly impressive left winger Juampe gives us the early lead on 10 minutes with a fizzed effort from the edge of the box. It lasts five minutes! Velamazan arrives late from midfield to get on the end of an incisive pass and tuck in beyond San Sebastian.

Six minutes later, we regain the lead against the run of play. Juampe dives for the byline, a low cross across the six-yard box and it's a simple tap in for Bello.

Roquetas dominate the rest of the game, hitting the bar twice, but thanks to tactical shift to ultra-defensive we grind out the result.

The squad are shattered, but we're still grinding out results.

We're starting to make believers out of people I think! Six points clear of second place and ten points clear of our nearest challenger to a playoff place. It'd take a collapse of monumental proportions to get relegated now, and it's a relief to know I won't be suffering a total failure in my first season as a manager.

Kouadio is two weeks away from return and we need him back as we've conceded soft goals through the middle of midfield. My first choice centre-half partnership of Oliver and Martin Diaz won't be partnering eachother again for at least 5 months, whilst Ocana, Romerito, Ismael Chico, Sarasola and Regino are all craving a rest. Luckily, the fixture list is spacing itself out a bit more now, so that should alleviate the pressure somewhat, but there's no denying that squad depth could prevent us making a genuine run at the title as the season progresses.

You could keep going for a while.

A good start and I enjoy your writing style - good stuff mate

Sevilla Atletico 1-1 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 15

The top two clubs meet in... well, it's too early to call it a title decider, but it's a big game anyway!

Sevilla are the heavy favourites heading into this one, and they have a scattering of players who could play in Liga Adelante and do well.

The home team dominate possession in the first half but we look lethal on the counter, hitting the woodwork twice. An even game, 0-0 at the interval.

The game continues in much the same measure, before we're caught by a late sucker punch. Alberto Moreno is the benefactor of our trademark tiring defence and it's a simple goal as he skips easily past Olmo and places beyond the 'keeper.

Two subs follow, and one of them grabs the last gasp equaliser, proving once again that fresh legs at this level make all the difference.

Juanpe Berga is the man who continues to surprise, arriving late at the far post to bullet a header in to give us a share of the points.

Linense 2-2 Poli Ejido - Second Division B4, Game 16

A winnable game now against a lacklustre Poli Ejido, whose manager is under immense pressure at the moment.

33 minutes in, after a period of pressure, we take the lead. It's the familiar name of David Hernandez who breaks the offside trap and pokes beyond the advancing 'keeper.

Midfielder Regino gives us the two goal cushion going into half-time with a curling shot from the edge of the box. Looking all very comfortable.

However, Poli Ejido complete the unlikely turn around late on as we tired badly yet again.

Diego Camacho on 77 minutes has the easiest tap-in to get them back into the game, and Dani Cara completes the comeback with a header from a corner on 86 minutes.

Two points dropped, but we hang on at the top of the table thanks to a few sides slipping up below us.

Lucena 5-0 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 17

Lucena were on the verge of the relegation zone going into this game; however, they turned up in style and demolished us completely.

Matias Saad bagged an amazing four in a sensational performance, and would have had five except for an excellent penalty save from San Sebastian. Eneko got the other for the hosts.

A dismal performance and perhaps a sign that our luck has ended. That's no win in three.

Linense 1-2 Badajoz - Second Division B4, Game 18

If any confirmation of our decline was needed, it arrived here. This was our first home league defeat of the season.

It all started so well. David Hernandez with a trademark strike, bending it into the far corner from the edge of the box on 14 minutes. But Chota equalised on 24 with a near post flick on from a corner.

We dominated the game, but for about the 14th time fatigue and slack defending combined to gift the visitors the win. Daud, who has gone completely off the boil, gives the ball away cheaply, the ball is thumped forward, Romerito is confused by the flight of the ball and Diego Torres has all the time in the world to run on and put it beyond San Sebastian.

A devastating run of games which has saw us pick up just two points from a possible twelve. Yet miraculously we are still top by virtue of goals scored.

Disappointing, even though I half-expected it. Fitness is clearly the issue as players are ending the game on 40% condition on a few occasions, but there's nothing at all I can do about it.

We need a few wins to pick our heads up again and hopefully maintain a playoff push.

Still up there though.

I hope that you used a whole hair salon, let alone the hairdryer, after that 5-0 loss. If that had been me, I'd have been on the verge of sacking those to blame.

Still up there though.

Indeed! It's been a good season thus far but I'm still hoping for the dream promotion!

I hope that you used a whole hair salon, let alone the hairdryer, after that 5-0 loss. If that had been me, I'd have been on the verge of sacking those to blame.

Yeah, it wasn't good to say the least. Every area of the team collapsed and I let them know about it at full time and in the after match press conference.

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January Transfer Window 2012 Update

So, with a threadbare squad due to registration rules, it's important that we improve in key positions whereever and whenever possible. So, with one eye on next year, I set about securing Bosmans as well as bringing in players for the remainder as the season as we continue our implausable promotion push.

The board have upped my transfer budget in light of my league position, and undoubtedly because of the income from the cup murdering we took off Valencia.

I identified my leaky defence as a priority, as well as a versatile attacking option. As such, I bring in Francisco Zamorano, a defensive player who, whilst not amazing in terms of stats, can play in a variety of defensive positions and is a better option for many of them than what I currently have. £7000 over 48 months, which £1750 a year, which I could afford to pay for myself in real life!!!

But the exciting signing is the left winger/striker from a Ukrainian club Karpaty. I've brought Lucas, a Spaniard, back home from the Ukraine for £40k. The ex-Atletico and Rayo Vallecano man oozes quality with great stats across the board and I'm sure he'll shine at this level.

Those are the guys brought in immediately. As for the Bosmans, I've secured the signature of a superb youngster named Ramon Morant from San Roque. A 19-year-old attacking midfielder, he had interest from Liga Adelante but we've acted switfly and snapped him up.

I'm happy with my work in this window. Hopefully, we'll have enough to secure promotion this year, but if we don't at least I've secured the beginnings of a quality squad for next year.

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Ecija 2-4 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 19

It's the last game before a much needed winter break, and a win would ensure we stay top at the halfway point. However, it's going to be a

tricky game and due to our recent form I don't hold out much hope of more than a point.

But we make a bright start again and we take the lead! Total dominance early on, and Kouadio makes it

count. It comes from a corner, which hits Kouadio and deflects over the line - totally unintentional but they all count.

23 minutes gone, and it's 2-0! We're defying the form books here, as Daud displays his pace, breaking free

and tucking it away tidily.

Ten minutes before the break, David Hernandez pops up to smash home a third, which will surely ensure we

finish top at the halfway point of the season - magnificent!

But wait... a sucker punch before half time. Ecija have hardly been in the game, but Juan Pablo Ruiz

suddenly bursts free of Romerito and calmly slides the ball under San Sebastian to give them a foothold in the game.

3-1 at half time.

The second half sees Ecija on top for long spells, and I fear another late collapse, but thankfully we get a penalty after a lunge on

Juampe. Daud (Penalty) converts it, 4-1 and we're safe for the three points now.

A late second from Juan Pablo Ruiz was deserved, but the game was already over and it's a 4-2 win for the

Linense boys! We lead the table after 19 games on goal difference.

San Roque 0-1 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 20

That break will have done the squad the world of good, and the transfer window is open and with re-arrange league ambitions the board has increased my transfer budget to £45k. I'll be looking to use that!

San Roque have the better of this game, and it's settled very late on thanks to our substitute striker Joao Moreira who gets on the end of a drilled Juampe cross on the 86th minute to grab his first Linense goal after 16 games of trying.

It wasn't a classic performance, but three points in the bag.

Linense 2-3 Cacareno - Second Division B4, Game 21

To say that a home defeat here was disappointing is an understatement. After a minor recovery with two away wins against decent opposition, to lose at home is beyond irritating.

The game was the debut for Francisco Zamorano, who slotted in at centre-half, but he had a bit of a nightmare as the visitors score three times from the only three shots they had. Pedro scored twice and David Hernandez and a Daud (Penalty) saw both sides take the lead before pegging it back, but the game was settled via a wonder strike from Santi Amaro who blazed in a 30 yard free-kick early in the second half.

We dominated large periods of this game but failed to take even a point from it.

La Union 1-2 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 22

The first game for our big money signing from Karpaty! Lucas is straight into the team to play left wing.

And it's thanks to his influence we make it three away wins on the spin and prevent the Cacareno game being the beginning of another slump.

Lucas sets up David Hernandez with a lovely weighted through ball on 16 minutes for 1-0, before providing the corner for Juampe to tuck in a close range volley just after the interval to make it 2-0.

We rode our luck however. Quinin missed a penalty in the first half for the hosts, and Juan Tenorio scored a good goal in the 79th minute to put the pressure on, but we hang on for a great win that sees us move four points clear at the top.

Four points clear! We've been lucky that when we've messed up, our rivals have usually done so too - teams are taking points from eachother all over the place - the difference between 3rd and 12th is only 10 points, so you can tell it's tight!

Pre-season favourites Cadiz are the biggest disappointment this season as they languish in 10th, but Melilla, Sevilla Atletico and Ceuta were all predicted to be in the top four and they have made true on that prediction and are putting the pressure on us at the top.

Interesting times ahead! Can we keep up this unlikely title challenge or will we fall by the wayside as the season enters the second half?

Linense 1-0 Melilla - Second Division B4, Game 23

It's a league title six-pointer I think it's fair to say! 1st against 2nd, and it's a tight, nervy affair that is settled late on by new

Linense hero Lucas!

Yep! His first goal is a vital one, as he latches on to a Duad cross to tuck away at the far post on the 79th minute to secure a crucial

win for the home side.

This one won't win awards for the purity of the football on display, but the end result is what counts and we move seven points clear at

the top.

Get in!!!

Almeria "B" 3-4 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 24

Our good away form continues, after an extremely open seven goal thriller away to Almeria.

Our defence continues to cause concern, but as this game demonstrates our attacking form is compensating for it with over two goals a game

in the league.

A wonder goal from Lucas gave us the lead after two minutes, following a mazy run and a tidy right footed

finish into the far corner.

Richi quickly pulled it level with a powerful header, before the rest of the first half emerged into a back

and forth game punctuated with missed opportunties from both sides.

However, Ocana popped up on the 41st minute to give us a 2-1 lead before the break.

Second half, and Ocana grabbed his second on 62 minutes with a deflected effort to give us the 3-1 lead,

and suddenly I felt comfortable for the win.

Almeria weren't finished though. Pablo Pallares struck twice in two minutes to pull Almeria level, and it

looked like a complete collapse was on the cards.

But we rode out a rough patch, and once again we pinch a game late on. Substitute Ismael Chico arrives late

in the box to power in a header from an excellent Sarasolo cross - the 'keeper got a hand on it but it just about trickled across the line.

A 4-3 win and that opens up an 8 point lead at the top after Melilla lost, meaning they have now lost three games in a row and gone four

games without scoring. Sevilla Atletico have taken 2nd place.

Linense 3-0 Lorca At. - Second Division B4, Game 25

A great win here against a decent Lorca side, courtesy of our three attacking stars.

David Hernandez starts the scoring in the 4th minute, after he takes control of a scramble in the box,

chests down, spins and tucks it away. That's 14 goals in 25 games for our star striker.

Lucas makes it three goals in three games in style. He starts the counter attack and finishes it 20 seconds

later with a placed finish.

And Daud makes an intelligent run in behind the defence on the 80th minute and scores easily to give us a

comfortable 3-0 win and, importantly, a clean sheet.

Also, that makes it six wins in the last seven games. An excellent recovery after a shake December.

Cadiz 3-2 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 26

Before the season began, I'd have wrote us off completely ahead of this game. However, Cadiz have badly underachieved, and they've lost

three of the last five and haven't scored in the last two games. Conversely, we're on fire at the moment.

Guess who? Yep, Lucas has continued his astonishing start to life at Linense with a 28th minute goal - he

has electric pace and he glides clear of the defence and calmly strokes in a left footed shot from the edge of the box, right into the

corner.

Penalty to Cadiz on 38 minutes though. Olmo brings down Camille, and Oscar Perez (Penalty) puts it right

down the middle.

Second half, Anya skips past Sarasolo and whips the ball across the face of the goal and it's easy for Juanjo

to give the hosts the lad.

For a minute anyway. Straight from the kick off, we attack and David Hernandez slashes home a powerful

effort to equalise.

However, 73 minutes in, Camille dives down the left, another ball in behind the defence and a tap in for Cuero to give the 3-2 lead.

And that's the winner. Disappointed to drop points, but it was always going to be a tough game. Thankfully, Melilla lose and Sevilla Atletico draw, meaning that we still have an 8 point lead at the top, ahead of C

A decent run. With 12 games left, an 8 point gap at the top is a big margin - and although I'd enter a playoff even if I won the league outright, it'd make the chance of promotion a lot, lot better than if I finished 4th, for example, so it's important to win the league if at all possible.

Defensively though, we are a shambles. We are relying on outscoring our opponents and whilst that makes for entertaining football, it's nerve wrecking! We've actually conceded more goals than the bottom two teams in this league!

I think if we win seven of our next twelve games we will win the league, so the aim is to finish on at least 74 points. If we manage that, I'll be happy.

Linense 2-1 Villanueva - Second Division B4, Game 27

We're hoping to bounce back immediately from the Cadiz loss with this winnable home game against Villanueva.

And once again, it's Lucas who gets the opener! The January arrival has been simply sensational since joining the club and he once again produces a classy finish to the benefit of Linense after 22 minutes played.

The second arrives on 34 minutes, as Kouadio continues to regain his pre-injury form with a well timed run and finish from midfield.

David Cabello pulls one back straight after the interval, but we dominate this game and I'll remember this one as a match where we played with the swagger of potential champions.

Jaen 1-6 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 28

On paper, this should have been a close game. Jaen have been hit and miss but have dangerous attacking players, and recording a 1-0 win over title contenders Cueta away from home last time out.

However, we absolutely mauled them from the first whistle - even without the injured David Hernandez.

His replacement Melchor takes advantage of his opportunity by netting twice inside the first seven minutes. And it got even better from there. Kouadio and Duad add a brace each to make the score 6-0 inside 70 minutes.

Javi Lopez spoiled the party by denying us a clean sheet but a massive win and I now firmly believe we will finish the season as champions.

Linense 2-0 Puertollano - Second Division B4, Game 29

The real story of this game isn't reflected in the scoreline - the truth is we got battered here, but still managed to win and keep a clean sheet in the process.

Kouadio continued his goalscoring run from midfield to make it four goals in three games in the 25th minute, and it was against the run of play. Puertollano should have scored at least four before David Hernandez, on from the bench after his return from a knock, smashed home an 84th minute goal to secure the win.

Villanovense 1-3 Linense - Second Division B4, Game 30

A win here would all but secure the title in my eyes, and we got it - courtesy of another superb cameo performance off the bench from David Hernandez.

Our leading scorer took his tally to 18 in 29 games after coming on as a half time sub and smashing in two inside five minutes.

Lucas added a lovely third with a drilled effort from midfield, before a consolation effort from Paulino at the end ruined any chance of a deserved clean sheet.

14 points clear with only 8 games left. We're champions elect, barring a collapse of epic proportions. Nine wins in the last ten games has obliterated the competition.

So yeah, I'd be shocked if we didn't land the title now, and we have superb performances from the likes of Hernandez, Juampe, Duad, Lucas and Kouadio to thank for it.

With only 24 points to play for and a 14 point gap established, it would take a miracle for someone to catch us, especially due to the inconsistent form of the challengers in the top five.

However, Cadiz have recovered well and look like they could get a playoff place after all - well done to them!

We do have three tough games on the spin coming up soon though - Ceuta, Roquetas and Sevilla Atletico. With some luck, we could wrap up the title by the end of that run, but I won't be overly concerned even if we lose all three, as we'd still be favourites for the title.

Incredible season. Should have a chance in the playoffs.