Bologna on my mind – Snow and Patience. (20 Nov)

Written by: Massimo Sampaolesi. Translated by: Carlotta Belluzzi

The most unbearable aspect of the Italian championship is probably the break that the teams have to take to let their players compete in their own National squads. Let’s be clear: I am not upset with the Italian team. However, Bologna’s absence from the pitch always takes its toll on the fans. For in these circumstances, there is no tangible event to discuss, and our minds start to wander. We take it upon ourselves to add something to the analysis, releasing all sorts of thoughts: from the pessimist shouting “we will all die!”, to the optimist discussing Bologna’s place in the Champions league. All these thoughts have the right to exist – I can tell you that, because my job as a journalist is indeed to express my thoughts.

All in all, they are variations on the same theme, namely: what is Bologna’s future? After asking this question, we all become music directors: crescendo, diminuendo, going completely off-track. The only thing I feel is appropriate to say at this point is this: let’s be calm. It’s soon, too soon to see mistakes and uncertainties in the championship: we simply do not have enough data to be able to judge the situation correctly. Moreover, we are going through a very difficult phase – we could even call it Tutankhamun’s curse, which allegedly hit everyone involved in the search and excavation of the Pharaoh’s tomb. The number of injured players is rising every day, leaving Donadoni with very little choice over who to line up in the next matches.

However, we do know something: the next few matches, between now and Christmas, will be fundamental to understand where we are going. In January, a new championship will begin, perhaps strengthened by potential new purchases. In short, to understand who we are we will have to wait for the matches against Palermo, Atalanta, Udinese, Empoli and Pescara. The following ones, those against Milan and Juventus, will only either strengthen or weaken our suppositions. Those 5 matches can, in theory, be tackled comfortably, as are the 15 points that we would gain from winning them all. However, it is clear even to the most diehard optimist that we won’t win them all – it’s statistically unlikely. I would then say that the classical English calculation – winning the home games, drawing in the away games – might be feasible. But even this scenario feels too bright. Here’s what I think: I would be happy if we could take home 8 points, gained from 2 draws, 2 wins, and 1 defeat – not necessarily in this order. It would be especially satisfying to win against Palermo, Empoli, and Pescara, because it would mean keeping at a safe distance all those teams that risk relegation, and thus shooing away the pessimistic thoughts of some of the fans. It would even be acceptable to only gain 7 points against these three teams: to begin 2017 with 20 or 21 points would be a huge step forwards from last year. After all, let us not forget that one of Bologna’s characteristics is to develop step by step. 

We then need to wait for Christmas to be able to judge our situation. Let’s be strong and patient. In the meantime, the first snow has already appeared on the Bolognese Apennine. 

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