Bologna on my mind: Balancing on the absurd. (13 Dec)

Written by: Massimo Sampaolesi. Translated by: Carlotta Belluzzi

Today, I’d like to “argument to absurdity”, as you do in maths. Bologna is on its way to relegation: the last 4 matches did not turn out as well as we were all hoping. True, there is still one game left, but it’s a difficult one, where Pescara needs those points as much as Dracula needs blood. Let’s also add that our “bomber” is currently not-so-bomber, and his header over the crossbar against Empoli does seem to confirm it. Finally, there appears to be no new purchases in store for Bologna in January, and it’s looking like the team will remain more or less the same.

The only thing that’s left now to finish off this tragic scenario is the Titanic orchestra.

And yet…Yes, there is a “yet” that should be contemplated. Because for the first time I feel safe, sheltered. Sheltered by that Canadian man at whom everyone is now lashing out – criticising his choices, if not him.

For example, we were alarmed by the news that Blerim Dzemaili might move from the humid cold of Bologna to the dry cold of Canada at the end of the season, to play for Saputo’s other team, Montreal Impact. This was enough to unleash a wave of worry among the fans, terrified at the prospect of losing one of their best players so far. I have to admit, I am worried too, but this was something that we had been told a long time ago – as soon as he had joined the team, in fact. And when Donadoni emphasised that nothing is fixed in stone yet, it’s certainly because he wants Dzemaili to feel like he still has to prove himself worthy and do the best that he can for his current team, especially in such a challenging moment of the season.

In my opinion, the challenges we are currently facing are not Joey Saputo’s fault. Yes, we aren’t doing great, that’s clear. But there’s still 2/3rds of the championship to go, and that’s a long way to go. Obviously, however, we cannot hope to face the rest of the championship in our current condition: we have become predictable and rigid. Our attacks are always the same, we saw them against Empoli too: every now and then there’s a cross coming from the attacking third, hoping to catch the head of Destro, and the side players (besides the fact that Krejci does not seem to be in good a shape as he used to, and that Verdi is injured) do not have that strength anymore which we were praising at the start of the season. But that’s how it is, at the moment: no alternatives are on sight. However, I do not think the problems are tactical: Donadoni made it clear when he specified that the second half of the match against Empoli went much better than the first. And during that second half, Bologna kept the pressure up and increased their attack on Empoli’s net. Although it came to no conclusion, it still provided grounds for hope. But one point against Empoli is not good enough. Donadoni had to make-do with a team chosen together with Bigon and developed mostly for one single arrangement – that 4-3-3 which, without Verdi’s creativity, becomes indeed predictable. The real problem right now is due to an increasing fear of making mistakes that started a few weeks ago. The squad seems to be experiencing an uneasiness that is due to fear. Fear of making mistakes. And the sentence “I’ll open the champagne if we don’t get relegated” uttered by our director certainly did not help lighten the mood.

Is there a solution? Maybe. The solution could lie in applying more creativity, in choosing a different player for the starting line-up: more unpredictability, less rigidity. But most of all, more serenity: let’s remind ourselves that at the moment, the points that separate us from the relegation zone are the same that separate us from Torino. The antidote for our current ailment is a serene and engaged team. But we have to act soon: tomorrow will already be too late.

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