This is The Genoan Journey. A one season experiment in which a young aspiring guy who doesn’t often watch Serie A becomes a fan of a mid-table Italian side in order to achieve happiness and a sense of value whilst writing weekly about the team’s endeavours. Forza Genoa!

We are now about 2 months into ‘The Genoan Journey’, and just as our journey begins to take shape, it looks as if Ivan Juric will be ending his adventure with the club. It is not certain yet but it looks likely to be the close of what has been a great journey with Genoa Football Club.

It was the 1976/77 season in which the last time Genoa started a top flight season as poorly as they have started this one. To put that into context, Buffon was the mere age of 27! How I see it, is the team are playing well, and the style of play is perfect for Genoa – there is clearly some positivity when things are going their way. But, I think a huge lack of luck at times has really bogged them down as well as certain individuals maybe not performing as robustly as they can do. There is clearly a lack of spark up front in the final third and too often the last pass or the last shot is not good enough. As good as Pellegri is, I am not sure he is good enough at this early stage in his career to be leading the line in the absence of Gianluca Lapadula.

The match against Bologna could well be the last match Juric takes charge of, and I hope that the boys can really put on a show and wear the jersey with pride if it is to be his last game. There is no question that this really is a must win game, and maybe this can be the kick start this campaign needs to get us out of this early relegation scrap.

The Opposition

This week, we take on Bologna, established in 1909 and from coincidentally the city of Bologna in Northern Italy. Bologna are nicknamed the Rossoblu, due to their blue and red kits… I am not saying that Bologna copied us in any way but if they wanted to look as good as us then they went the right away about it. Traditionally, the city of Bologna is a very leftist city and was the home of the Italian Communist Party for many years.

Speaking of erratic and forward thinking left wingers, Bologna have one of their own in the form of Rodrigo Palacio. The former Genoa and Inter man is a guy that, for me, sticks out on the team sheet due to playing with him a lot during my teenage FIFA years – the boy had a strike on him as well as a boss hairstyle. (see below)

Bologna in general, have made a fairly good start to the season and prior to this game sit mid table with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses to their name – very middle of the road. They are coached by Italian managerial journeyman and former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni, and yes before you ask, he has also managed Genoa. By no means have they been amazing, but by the same token they have arguably only been outclassed by Napoli, who in fairness, could have a good go at outclassing any team in Europe right now under Sarri.

The Game

For the match versus Bologna we are really struggling with suspensions, our main man Adel is out as well as my man of the match for the game against Inter Stephane Omeonga. As well as this, Bertolacci is still out through suspension which means Isaac Cofie (who I have no rated at all so far) partners Miguel Veloso in the midfield.

We begin as we always do, erratic and a bit clumsy. Pietro Pellegri dives in very early on Bologna midfielder Erick Pulgar and is lucky to only get away with a yellow. As much as I love the boy, it is very clear that he needs to work on his composure and learn to keep a cool head.

As the first half went on, it was clear that tension were running high in the Genoa camp, a total of 4 yellow cards were handed out to individuals and there had been a lot of strayed passes and blazed over shots when put under pressure. In truth, the first half was fairly drab and there were not a whole lot of chances, Rodrigo Palacio did force our main man Perin into a few saves but for Genoa there really was not much to chew the fat over.

The half time whistle blew and copious amounts of boos and whistles poured onto the players. The Merrassi was a cauldron of negativity and the fans were beginning to run out of patience. Juric must have ripped into his men at the break, even if it were to just provoke a reaction.

The second half begins and to begin with it is a continuation of the first half, sloppy play and loose shots. Raffaelle Paladino, for me, encapsulates this perfectly. He is a veteran compared to a lot of younger colleagues, but the whole match he looked sluggish and not on it at all – I am not sure he deserves a starting spot.

With sweat dripping from their faces and screams escaping from Jurics’ mouth, Genoa make a quick break down the right via Lazovic. He squares the ball to Palladino in the 6 yard box who has his shot excellently saved – in fact, how did he not score? The ball is beaten away and Veloso follows up with a vicious thunderbolt, again the ball is slapped away from the top corner by the brilliant Mirante. Veloso and Palladino turn away in perfect sync, hands raised onto their heads with disbelief – will the Rossoblu ever have the dice roll in their favour? A wry smile falls from Miguel’s mouth, and as the saying goes, ‘a picture can paint a thousand words’.

Of course, coming so close meant that Bologna had to wake up, and wake up they did. Only a minute or so after Genoa came so close to breaking the deadlock, a well timed flick by Mattia Destro somehow beat the offside trap and sends ex-Genoa man Rodrigo Palacio through on goal. Diego Laxalt threw his whole body into the front man but could not knock him off the ball, he poked it past Perin and the ball ricocheted from the inside of the post and into the back of the net. Palacio instantaneously held his hands up, as if to apologise to the fans, and maybe even Ivan Juric. He may have just become the executioner in this cruel story, even if he hadn’t wanted to be.

A collective sigh was audible from the fans, and the Genoa boys looked defeated. A few half chances were all that remained for the Grifone, with a squared ball finding substitute Goran Pandev who could only hit the ball into the hands of the excellent Mirante. Another chance for Genoa in the closing minutes fell to the other sub, Andrey Galabinov who steered an excellent cross onto the side of the bar. A gentle reminder of how unfortunate the team had been recently.

On the other hand, a reminder of how some players have under performed was on show just afterwards, with a free header missed from 6 yards out by the man Palladino – the gift that keeps on giving. And with that, the game finished 1-0 to Bologna.

Man of the match this week will go to the Bologna player and goalscorer, Rodrigo Palacio. He played a fine match and was not only crucial in the final third, but defended very well also. Incredible from a man of 35, you could be forgiven for thinking he was one of the youngest. Dick of the day, unfortunately, has to go to our very own Genoa ultra, who was seen punching a reporter before kick off. Tensions are of course high with the sale, or lack of sale, of the club as well as the incredibly poor run of form, but this behaviour cannot be pardoned in the modern game.

I find it very frustrating that we play very well against the bigger teams, like Juve, Inter and Lazio – but yet, when the teams that come to the Merrassi who we should be able to beat like Bologna, Chievo we play very uninspiring and lackluster. There is almost a lack of enthusiasm with the players and maybe their egos are too big for those perceived ‘lesser’ games.

After the international break (gosh, another one), we face Cagliari away from home. Will we be under a new manager by then, it certainly does look like it. However, perhaps we can tempt big Carlo Ancelotti to take over at the Marassi, what an appointment that would be. Until then, Forza Genoa!