There is something in football that lends itself to the word ‘encapsulation’; as every match unfolds, it tells a very specific story. Often, because the protagonists are well established, that story traces very neatly onto a far longer tale.
To date, in these pieces, I have compared Bologna’s season to a piece of art by Rene Magritte, the end of a Harry Potter film and a number of stories from Greek mythology. It is the football that inspires these comparisons; and I don’t do it to confuse, simply to illustrate.
This is where encapsulation comes back in. Bologna’s draw at Hellas Verona was like nothing more than the 2013-14 vintage of Bologna. They were themselves, to an almost painful level of accuracy, when they needed to be more than themselves to win the game; and so they drew.
A point at the Bentegodi is a point gained, even if Luca Toni’s absence perhaps allowed the dream of more. It keeps the Rossoblu floating above the drop zone with more winnable games ahead. A clean sheet against a team who have scored 1.66 goals per game so far is equally laudable, and further shows that Davide Ballardini has got the defence sorted out to a certain degree.
The Rossoblu fans turned up in Verona in their droves, creating a fine atmosphere for football that spilled over into rather regrettable violence on occasion. There were two arrests made. In good voice, the travelling supporters were given another good performance to cheer. That it was not capped with a goal that would have brought three points is the only regret.
It was ever thus with Bologna this campaign. After a struggle to sort out a porous defence allows a coach the time to work on other things while the team pick up some points and some form. Indeed, Bologna have actually conceded fewer goals than their opponents last weekend. This is followed by work on the training ground turns to how they could maximise the effect of the attack, which has been misfiring.
Nothing says ‘misfiring attack’ like failure to convert a penalty, which was the fate that befell Rolando Bianchi on Sunday afternoon. Bianchi’s recent performances have been improving and he will have gone into the spot kick with no little confidence, but he looked unconvincing as he stepped up, and it was a comfortable height to save. Bianchi will bounce back – he looked lively again in Verona, and easier challenges await. Despite his paltry goals figure, the effort he puts in has won the patience of the Felsinei, and history suggests goals will come for him.
The same may be true of Davide Moscardelli, after the flying beard replaced Bianchi. His performances have been limited this season, but he produced considerable threat to the Mastini, particularly before Cristaldo was dismissed for leading with his elbow. Cristaldo’s absence will be keenly felt, but it is those absences that have brought the best out of Ballardini’s side so far.
Sunday also brought another sighting of Ibson in a Bologna shirt, the Brazilian being given twenty minutes to break the deadlock of a game his side were dominating. His best moment – again the story of the season so far – was a scuffed shot that bobbled just wide of the post. Ibson is looking more acclimatised to Serie A now, so he may well come into the side in Cristaldo’s place while he serves his suspension; or if Panagiotis Kone’s injury is severe enough to keep him out.
With ten men, Bologna remained compact, tight and managed to pose a threat as well. That Romulo’s long distance shot that seemed arrowed into the top corner was repelled by Gianluca Curci was a step forward, too. Romulo is no Balotelli, but the look of the shot brought the same feeling as in the game against the Rossoblu.
Bologna’s next game is against a Sassuolo side who have come to their senses and re-appointed Eusebio Di Francesco. The Neroverde played very differently after the former Roma man departed, so it will be interesting to see if he manages to instil his attacking belief in the players before they arrive at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara at the weekend.
To watch the Rossoblu this season has been to watch a collection of parts that have never quite been able to fulfil their potential as a whole. On Sunday, as the defence was impenetrable but the attack lacked bite, it was as if watching the whole season through the lens of a single match. The most important thing to take forward from it, then, is that it was enough. Bologna have set nothing ablaze with their ability this season, but they’ve done enough.
It will only be in May that we learn if doing enough has been enough.
