Football Season Guide

The past season undoubtedly was an undecipherable one for Bologna. They had a disastrous beginning which led to coach Rossi’s sacking and Donadoni’s arrival. The new man in charge steadied the ship and, thanks to an impressive ride, brought the team out of troubles, real close to the top 6. However, the last weeks of the campaign, following Destro’s injury, turned into a nightmare. Quite logically, the coach was confirmed and he will be asked to repeat the wonders displayed last season between November and March. The squad was hardly touched with the sole key player Giaccherini leaving due to the end of loan from Sunderland. Zuniga, Constant and Mancosu also left but they will not be missed as they had no chance to shine at all. Diawara, who was a protagonist in the middle of the park, is at odds with the club and he might be sold before the start of the season too, such as Rossettini. A few new players arrived in order to strengthen both the midfield and the attack. Verdi, in particular, is expected to provide that offensive creativity that would be lacking given Giaccherini’s departure and Brienza’s age. Players like Krejci, from Sparta Praha, and Di Francesco, from Virtus Lanciano, should act as the wingers in either a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-5-2 formation. Thus, with Mirante confirmed in goals, Mbaye and Masina could be acting as full-backs with Gastaldello and Maietta as centre-backs; Taider and Donsah would be the holding midfielders with Rizzo also a protagonist. Destro will be expected to provide the goals but, as he is pretty injury-prone, he might not be enough. And the lack of a real alternative up-front is a problem that has to be addressed before the end of the transfer campaign.