Vale Lane's defensive wall finally cracked.
The goal from Beech had broken their resolve—and once they opened up, Morecambe pounced.
With space to play and tempo back on their side, the difference in quality quickly showed.
In the 71st and 85th minutes, Ibrahimovic struck twice more—both headers—capping off his first hat-trick of the season.
The match ended 3–0. Seventeen straight wins in all competitions.
Morecambe's momentum was real—and unstoppable.
---
Six Days Later
League Matchday 16 – Away at Colchester United
As Juninho expected, Colchester sat in a 5-4-1 low block from kickoff—no shame, no pretense, not even at home.
And why would they? Teams had stopped trying to beat Morecambe. Now, they just tried to survive them.
In a way, Vale Lane's loss had encouraged others. Sure, they conceded three—but they held out for nearly an hour. That gave hope to others.
Hope that if they just held on tighter, they might steal a point.
But they misunderstood what really won Morecambe the game.
It wasn't just the players. It was the detail. The tactical adjustments. Juninho had spent years in his past life studying how the best clubs broke low blocks. He had answers others hadn't even begun to ask.
In the 15th minute, Ronaldinho proved it again—dancing past two defenders and curling one low into the corner from the edge of the box.
Then came Ibrahimovic. A poacher's header just before halftime. A dipping long-range shot on the hour mark.
Another 3–0. Another lesson taught.
---
Late September – League Matchdays 17 to 20
Juninho rotated the squad lightly, used the fixtures as testing grounds for the Cup matches to come.
Matchday 17 vs Harrogate (H) – 2–0. Controlled. Clinical.
Matchday 18 vs Barrow (A) – 4–1. One sloppy set piece, otherwise flawless.
Matchday 19 vs Stevenage (H) – 4–0. Ronaldinho's first hat-trick.
Matchday 20 vs Oldham (H) – 3–0. Ruthless. Smothering.
Five matches. Five wins.
A perfect September.
The table wasn't just tilted—it was shattered.
---
October Begins
The draws for the League Cup Round 3 and the FA Cup qualifiers hadn't yet dropped. Until then, Juninho focused on what came next.
And that meant the winter transfer window.
The buzz across Europe was already growing. Reports leaked daily about top clubs circling young talent—especially after Morecambe's recent run.
Juninho read everything. Monitored the rumour mill closely.
To his quiet relief, there was still no chatter about Kaká or Cristiano Ronaldo. For now, the giants hadn't noticed.
That wouldn't last. He had to move.
He'd locked in his priority: bring both to Morecambe this winter. No matter the cost.
---
But the vision didn't stop there.
If Kaká and Cristiano stabilized the attack, the next phase was the back line.
The name came to him immediately:
> Sergio Ramos.
The bull from Seville. The iron-blooded defender from Spain. He wasn't yet the world-class warrior he'd one day become, but the potential was there—raw and radiant.
At fifteen, Ramos was still at Sevilla U19. No hype yet. No big agents circling. Two years from making their B team. Four from Madrid.
Now was the time.
Juninho mentally added Ramos to the list. He could rotate in next season. Grow beside Vidic. Learn under pressure.
Together, they could form the backbone of Morecambe's future.
---
Next: The Goalkeeper.
In the summer window, Juninho had rushed. Built the spine. But now, with the pace of the season stabilizing, it was time to secure the net.
He filtered through the mental shortlist.
Buffon? Unreachable.
Casillas? Already Madrid's gem.
De Gea? Too young.
Navas? Not ready.
Then he landed on the perfect option.
> Petr Čech.
Eighteen. Still in the Czech second division. No big contracts. No real competition.
He wasn't world-famous yet. But Juninho knew his arc—brilliant shot-stopper, elite temperament, later slowed by one tragic injury.
But this time, with top-tier medical oversight and the right development pathway?
Čech could become Morecambe's wall for the next decade.
> "Helmet or not," Juninho murmured to himself, "he's the one."
---
By the end of the day, the shortlist was clear:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Kaká
Sergio Ramos
Petr Čech
Each name was a gamble.
Each signing a statement.
And if he pulled it off?
Morecambe wouldn't just dominate League Two.
They'd bulldoze the football pyramid.
---