Bologna are an ambitious club and Mihajlovic is an ambitious coach. They certainly aimed at a place in the top 10 at the end of the season, especially considering that they had failed to make it by only a few inches in the previous campaign.
Despite an untouched squad, only strengthened by Hickey, an 18-year-old left-back who immediately acquired starting status, Bologna had a very slow start to the season, losing 4 out of the initial 5 games while defeating Parma in the derby. Then, they managed to reach the top 10 thanks to 3 wins between weeks 6 and 9 and that would be the peak of their campaign. After that, they only seldom succeeded to be brilliant again and often threw points away due to a poor defending.
Between weeks 10 and 17 they failed to win any games but were capable of a 5-game drawing run. With the arrival of Soumaoro in January, Mihajlovic managed to tighten the defence up a bit and Bologna started winning games again, while alternating them with negative results.
Between weeks 18 and 31 they won 6 more times, while also losing 6, and seemed to be heading for the top 10 again but the final 7 games turned out to be disastrous. In fact, an array of injuries depleted the squad and, in particular, they ended up being given harsh beatings by Atalanta, 0-5, and Juventus, 1-4.
While having plenty of quality in the squad, Bologna totally lacked consistency. Players like Barrow (8 goals and 10 assists) or Orsolini (7 goals and 4 assists) often misfired or offered poor performances while some of the older stars, like Palacio and Danilo, despite their commitment to the cause, clearly proved well past their prime.
On the other hand, Schouten, a holding midfielder, and Soriano, an attacking midfielder capable of 9 goals and 7 assists, were the players who stood out for their consistency and the importance within the team.
A lot of investments are needed by Bologna if they really are to contend for a European spot again.
