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Unfortunately, the draw at home drops us down to ninth, with 26 points so far for the season, as compared to Ceuta’s 38 points, which tops the group at this point. We are now five points from the last promotion playoff spot, and that is where I’m continuing to set my sights.

However, we’re looking forward now to a tough home match against Algeciras, who for a while topped the group a few rounds ago, but now sit third, four points from the peak. They have scored the second-most goals in the group, with 30 goals in their ‘for’ column, while I can boast that we are the most frugal to date, conceding just 7 goals for the season. Unfortunately, bar everyone in the relegation zone, we are the least productive in front of goal, with just 19 goals scored for the season.

20th of December 2004

Blinker will miss two weeks after injuring his foot in training – the poor facilities at Cartagena probably don’t help matters, but we’re running at a loss at the moment, so I don’t think I’d have much joy approaching the Board for the money to upgrade our training base. In any event, Blinker hasn’t featured much in our recent games.

21st of December 2004

Much worse news from training as my physios report that strong central defender Alberto Merino will miss a fortnight thanks to straining a groin muscle in training. Merino has been superb in defence next to Rambier, and I can ill-afford to lose him ahead of a crunch game with Algeciras.

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22nd of December 2004

I decide to put on a positive face for tonight’s game against Algeciras and hope that some fighting words to the local press will lift the team’s spirits and propel us to a much-needed victory. It has mixed results. Some of the players don’t seem to care (or don’t read newspapers). A couple of players are very pleased and are determined to back me up. Eduardo Conget, on the other hand, thinks this type of psychological mind-games should be beneath managers and isn’t very impressed.

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 18: Cartagena v Algeciras

We begin this game as well as I could hope for when Loreto, one of those players fired up by my comments to the press, takes SÃ*vori’s pass and strides purposefully towards goal, using his strength to hold off up to three defenders and slotting it magnificently home on 7 minutes. Six minutes later, Conget flights a beautiful ball over the top of the defenders to land in Loreto’s path, and he has no hesitation in hitting a shot across the keeper’s body and in for a goal. Then on 32 minutes I look on in horror as Iñaki, given a simple backpass by Puig, manages to put it directly in the path of Donoso. Iñaki, as shocked as I am, races back to guard his goal while my defenders also struggle to get into position. Fortunately, Donoso holds onto the ball too long and Manu is there to clear it away. But it’s a sign of things to come…

Just eight minutes later, Algeciras have a vital way back into the game when Donoso and Quique Romero exchange passes inside our penalty box and Donoso is able to prod home from about 5 yards. We spend the whole of the second half under the cosh as my players decide now would be a good time, against a club in the promotion playoff zone, to ignore my instructions and pump the ball long at every opportunity. It doesn’t help when Loreto is forced to limp off with a severe injury, which necessitates the small Kali Ongala to act as our front-man, though Algeciras is reduced to ten men when Vinny Samways is sent off for two yellow cards mid-way through the second half. Nevertheless, I’m furious with my players as they continually give away possession cheaply with aimless long balls up the field. To underline my point, with the last kick of the game Ortega squares things up when he controls a lovely long ball from the Algeciras keeper catching my players off-guard.

This evening, I’m not a happy camper, as I see promotion hopes beginning to slip away.

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Manu, Conget; Silva, Piombo, Puig, Isach; SÃ*vori; Loreto (Ongala 72).

Algeciras (4-4-2): Calleja; EspÃ*nola (c), Sanjulián (Arturo 59), Benjamin, Ortega; Esparza (AgustÃ*n 43), Carlos Alvarez, Samways (s/o 59), Quique Romero; Sequeiros, Donoso (Rebollo 59).

Final score: Cartagena 2:2 Algeciras
MoM – SÃ*vori

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The draw lifts us into eighth place, but we now lag 7 points off fourth place, so it’s becoming harder to see us make up the ground and sneak into a promotion playoff.

Loreto will miss a month of football after the veteran striker strains knee ligaments. The news is met poorly by fans, who see Loreto as somewhat of a talisman, and I’m asked in the post-match press conference whether we can cover for his loss. Being honest with myself, it’s going to be difficult. Ongala has only just joined the club and he is a different type of player. The other strikers I have at my disposal aren’t quite in Loreto’s class. However, to the press, I put on a brave face and say that we’ll cover his loss.

Conget damages a shoulder and will miss five days. Fortunately, our next game isn’t until the 9th of January 2005, so he should have plenty of time to recover.

Although we haven’t quite yet reached half-way in the season, I think now, with the Christmas/New Year’s break upon us, to quickly sum up how I think my squad has gone so far.

Goalkeepers

Iñaki has played every game so far this season and has been quite reliable. However, I’ve learned to dread when he has to kick the ball, as he is a terrible kick, and more often than not (particularly goal kicks) the opposition ends up with the ball. However, in 18 games he has kept 11 clean sheets, so he isn’t doing too badly.

Yepes hasn’t yet had a look-in but isn’t complaining, yet.

Defenders

A back four of Alain, Rambier, Merino and Conget is well-settled and they work well together. As I’ve discussed previously, I’m looking to release Conget from an unfamiliar right-back role back into midfield, where he can use his deadly crossing ability to better effect. However, I am very pleased with the efforts of all four players. Perhaps one slight quibble, though, is that they aren’t very dangerous at set pieces. Although they do sometimes out-jump an opponent at a set piece (like a corner) their headers are usually way off the mark.

From limited opportunities, Manu and Juanmi have both done serviceable jobs. They aren’t long-term prospects by any stretch of the imagination, but they do enough to keep a squad number. Herviás, a defensive utility, is patiently waiting for an opportunity. He has been on the bench a lot, but I haven’t yet thrown him into the fire.

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Midfielders

I’m very pleased with the efforts of Puig in particular. I did not think he would dominate the centre of midfield like he has to date this season, but he has proven me wrong. He is a tenacious and quite skilful midfielder (for this level of Spanish football) and has become a regular in my first team. Trobbiani has been the player I expected him to be since I snapped him up on a free transfer. I look forward to seeing him back in action when he can spray the passes around the field with aplomb.

Isach and Silva on the flanks have also been very good so far this season. Silva has scored three goals and generally has looked dangerous. Isach has also done quite well for himself so far this season and should be pleased with his efforts to date. Jordi was a good backup for Isach when the latter was out through injury and he is a little unfortunate that Isach has right wing sown up at this stage, because otherwise he would be a certain starter.

Regi Blinker hasn’t been the player I thought he would be. Sure, he’s done a good job, but I expected him to be the playmaker for the side. Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite lived up to that standard, and worse, he must have left his shooting boots in the Netherlands, because he has sprayed far too many shots on goal for my liking. I hope he can gain some goal-scoring form, because his £600 per week is not a luxury I can afford for too long.

Nando Sanz, Diego Gottardi and Uvi have had limited game time so far this season, and haven’t made a big impression just yet. But at least they have played competitively; players like Nunens, Levato, Guill and Raúl are yet to see any action this season.

Forwards

This is where we’ve been let down – a lack of firepower up forward. Our top scorer is SÃ*vori, who has a measly 5 goals from 9(3) appearances. Next best is Fran Nogueira, with 4 goals from 9(1) appearances, while Loreto comes in next with 3 goals from 7(6) goals. I’ve been frustrated that we can’t score goals, and I hope that Kali Ongala, who has only just joined the club, will finds things a little easier. It’s this inability to score goals that is holding us back at this stage. We need goals in the second half of the season if we are to push up the ladder.

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29th of December 2004

7th of January 2005

I’m going to be without Isach for a fortnight as he twists a knee in training.

9th of January 2005

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 19: Jerez v Cartagena

This marks the half-way point of the season and it would be nice to start the second half with a win. Fran Nogueira replaces the injured Loreto, while Jordi steps into the right wing position. Manu keeps his place ahead of a recovered Merino. Our first goal comes on 39 minutes when Silva sprays a magnificent 55 yard pass into the path of Nogueira who is left on his own by his defenders. Nogueira coolly slots it past the Jerez keeper to make it 1-0. It takes us until the 73rd minute to make the points safe, but when Piombo cuts out a Jerez free-kick and the ball makes its way to Silva, SÃ*vori is off like a shot. Silva plays another excellent ball to the forward, who rounds the keeper (almost goes too far in fact) before side-footing it home from the edge of the penalty box. So from two shots on-target, we score two goals for the game. It’s a nice fillip for the second half of the season.

Jerez (4-4-2): Dorronsoro; Green, Juan, Morales, Nicolás; Manolo (Muñoz 67), David (Chema 54), Pepe Puntas (c), De la Cruz (Alfonso 67); Mario, José Enrique.

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Manu, Conget; Silva, Piombo, Puig, Jordi; SÃ*vori; Fran Nogueira (Ongala 87).

Final score: Jerez 0:2 Cartagena
MoM – Iñaki

Happy news as Jordi signs a two-year contract. Not so happy is that we’re way over our wages budget.

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12th of January 2005

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 20: Alcalá de Guardaira v Cartagena

Our first goal of the game comes on 22 minutes when SÃ*vori makes a late run into the box, is picked out nicely by Jordi, and blasts home from about the penalty spot. However, a terrible defensive mix-up between Iñaki and Merino allows Orife to sneak in, steal the ball off Merino’s toe and prod home past our stricken keeper. Simply a matter of no communication between defender and keeper, and we’re back level just three minutes after taking the lead. But I feel much happier at half-time when our opponent’s keeper’s clearance is headed to the advantage of SÃ*vori by Merino, and the forward caps a fine first half with a neatly taken goal after dribbling his marker. But good play by our opponents just past the hour mark drags Merino away from the centre and leaves at least two players unmarked in our box. Orife drills a low pass across goal and Andrés gleefully levels the match. SÃ*vori should have given us all three points when he has a golden opportunity right on full-time to complete his hat-trick after good work from Silva, but he fluffs the opportunity and we leave Alcalá de Guardaira ruing the draw.

Alcalá de Guardaira (4-4-2): Leiva; Aurelio (c), Silva, Jacobo, Ricardo; Cárdenas, Pavón, Andrés (Migueli 73), Vergara (Chato 43); Orife, Sanlúcar (Del Campo 73).

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Merino, Conget; Silva, Piombo, Puig, Jordi; SÃ*vori; Nogueira.

Final score: Alcalá de Guardaira 2:2 Cartagena
MoM – SÃ*vori

Next Saturday, a televised home game against top of the table Ceuta. Should be a beauty.

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15th of January 2005

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 21: Cartagena v Ceuta

We haven’t done particularly well on televised games, usually because the standard of the opponent has been too much for us to cope with. Ceuta are undefeated since September when they lost to Marbella, so this will be a difficult game for us, even though I decide to name Trobbiani in midfield ahead of the unlucky Piombo, who has performed better than expected for me.

Things are eased, however, when on 6 minutes, dangerous Ceuta playmaker Luis Cembranos is forced from the field with an injury. We take the lead on 43 minutes when Trobbiani plays a visionary ball for Nogueira, who turns his man and fires a bullet into the far corner of the net! Then we have a numerical advantage on the stroke of half-time as Ceuta left-back Daniel Platero sees red for two bookings inside the first half! I hammer at the boys we have an opportunity to knock off the top side in the division and take a leap towards a promotion playoff berth if we can keep this up in the second half. The boys repay my faith on 68 minutes when Silva goes coast to coast before picking out SÃ*vori, who nutmegged a Ceuta defender then rounded the keeper to score our second, game-sealing goal of the game! He doesn’t know it, but I was close to substituting him after he had wasted some good opportunities before he finished off that chance.

A very satisfying win for us.

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Merino, Conget; Silva, Trobbiani, Puig, Jordi; SÃ*vori; Fran Nogueira.

Ceuta (4-5-1): Lara; Platero (s/o 45), Alberdi, Sandro, Juanma (Ignacio Alfonso 69); Diego, Sorribas (c), Basti, Pedro GarcÃ*a, Luis Cembranos (Berruezo 6); Maldonado (Alfonso 45).

Final score: Cartagena 2:0 Ceuta
MoM – Óscar Silva

Unfortunately, our man of the match picked up his fifth booking of the season and is automatically suspended for our next game, away to near-relegation certainty DÃ*ter Zafra.

Ceuta’s loss was their first in 18 games. A big win for the good guys, then!

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16th of January 2005

Our upset victory (Ceuta was favourite) does nothing to improve our league position as Sevilla B record a narrow 1-0 win over Badajoz to retain seventh place on the ladder. We are eighth, 11 points from the top and four points from fourth, which is where I’m aiming.

21st of January 2005

Three of my players attract interest from Primera Liga club Levante. Levante bids £40,000 for Trobbiani, £150,000 for Rambier and £80,000 for Sipho Nunens. The first two bids don’t interest me very much, but £80,000 for Nunens is a good bid, I think, for a player whom I can’t use and is costing us £1,100/week in wages. I ask £80,000 now, 15% sell-on clause, and a friendly for Nunens.

In terms of Trobbiani, let’s see whether Levante are prepared to put their money where their mouth is (so to speak). I up the asking price to £750,000, which meets Trobbiani’s minimum release fee.

I do the same for the Rambier offer, but Romain’s minimum release fee is just £500,000.

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23rd of January 2005

Levante informs me that it will withdraw its bids for Rambier, Trobbiani and Nunens.’

Segunda Liga B – Group 4, Game 22: DÃ*ter Zafra v Cartagena

Well, that was a fantastic game to watch! I thought Iñaki was poor in not making an attempt to save Abel’s shot, but it really seemed to fire us up, particularly SÃ*vori, who could do no wrong today. He was absolutely everywhere, controlling the play and finishing things off when necessary. It was a tremendous victory for the boys and has helped confidence in the squad to an all-time high. This time, I was gratified to see that the shots on target outnumbered the shots off-target, so perhaps we’re beginning to turn a corner in that regard. I am a very happy manager after this game.

DÃ*ter Zafra (4-4-2): Miguel Adolfo; Chemi, Maxi (c) (s/o 77), Rives, Juanra; Zurdo, Abel, Lozano (Curro 61), Luija (Manuel Mañas 77); Juanjo, Fran Moreno (Berto 70).

Cartagena (4-4-1-1): Iñaki; Alain, Rambier (c), Merino, Conget; Blinker, Trobbiani, Puig, Jordi; SÃ*vori (Nando Sanz 70); Fran Nogueira (Ongala 86).

Final score: DÃ*ter Zafra 1:6 Cartagena
MoM – SÃ*vori

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The victory pushes up to seventh place, just four points off fourth-placed Linares, but still 11 points off top spot, still held by Ceuta.

A huge, huge game awaits us next weekend when we host Badajoz. They sit three points and two places above us, so it’s vital if we are to maintain our late push for a promotion spot that we defeat our next opponent.