In the papers today the Bologna fans are once again questioning the transfer judgment of their manager. Dave Black may have guided Bologna to the Champions League group stages but his decision to shell out £5.5 million on Dwight Yorke has not gone down well. Fans are questioning the players off field antics and indeed one fan said “Preferirei avere il Micker” which loosely transaltes as “I’d rather have the Micker.” And who can blame him? Work to be done then for the Rossoblu’s who it has to be said are somehow ticking along nicely, despite their squad looking like a lost and found from 1994.

Yes indeed James. Bologna have made an unbeaten yet average start to Season 2 life. The most important aspect of last weeks update was to get into the Champions League groups, which we achieved easily. Then, despite being given a tough draw, we’re still in with a shot of escaping the group, so the garden is somewhat rosy. But will it be Rossoblu?

We start with cup action as we head to unfancied Reggiana. We dominate the play but can’t add a second goal and look like paying the ultimate price when Evani equalises. Luckily, Purk pops up with an injury time winner to save us all the hassle of whatever happens when it finishes a draw.

You have to say, that’s a reasonabe draw. Mind you, other than Juventus is there a bad draw in there?

More unconvincing away points here as Dwight Yorke opens his account. Purk is magic mind, really performing at a high level.

Shalimov is another who is getting better every week. An easy win over PSV keeps our hopes of progressing alive.

Oh, HELLO. I was resigned to playing for second but this defeat opens the door for a potential table topping endeavour.

Quiet game here as for some reason at 4-0 up we decide to kick the shit out of Treviso. Just a senseless Sunday afternoon in our mega dome arena.

Tomlinson attracted a lot of criticism when I signed him but he’s a big game player. Inexplicable really but he cancels out Conte’s opener within 60 seconds. A handy point.

We play them again in the Champions League just a few days later but at their place. We are strong, we have grown. Rob Page heads us ahead and the constant nuisance that is Pippo Inzaghi equalises. Just when you think we’re happy with an away point, that old stager Romario scrambles a late winner. He’s seen a lot that lad. Wow though.

A point in the last game will see us qualify.

A handsome win follows at Udinese. Romario has rediscovered his groove, something he didn’t do consistently last season but this new Rom Rom Rom could finally answer my striking woes. Somebody told me his name was (Bram)Bill(a) adds the gloss. The Crystals.

Cup time and one of the oddest evenings you’ll see in December or probably any month. At 3-0, I’m very confident of being in the semi finals but Gianluca Vialli, clearly annoyed by being sacked by Ken Bates, scores a 25 minute hat-trick. Brambilla saves face with an immediate response but the second leg is now full of spice.

We play them in the league just three days later and a 2 minute double salvo, one scored and the other made by Baggio, sees us to the three points.

The Champions League boils down to us having to draw at home to Dortmund and the in form Brambilla secures the win and our passage to the last 8.

Confirmation of a very impressive result.

I know beggars can’t be choosers but this is ridiculous.

A colour clash if nothing else. There weren’t many kind draws, to be fair.

Inter have just sacked their manager but it doesn’t stop Ronaldo scoring the only goal of the game to defeat us. Boo. Our first league loss of the season.

That tricky second leg is every bit as nervy as expected but Purk gives us temporary breathing space before Cagliari continue to be a pain in the arse. We survive though.

I like Genoa cake.

Roma are the surprising leaders of Serie A and they arrive at the Bologna mega dome in fine form. That big game player Tomlinson gives us the lead but that’s as good as it gets as ultimately 10 man Roma defeat us. A rare home loss but will it be critical?

A late loss at Parma is forgivable. The loss of Purk for a few weeks is a worry but the lack of an out and out goal scorer is a problem.

I mean, look at this. 8 shots on target from 24 is pretty poor.

But this is what infuriates me about this team. They are sometimes ruthless. Fiorentina are third but they get battered to death here.

Lecce try to frustrate us but thankfully Molnar’s double keeps this ship moving.

A disappointing loss at Napoli.

Then a hard fought home win over Vicenza. Make it make sense, as the youth say.

So we finish this session in second. There’s 9 points separating 1st from 11th though, which is hideous. I don’t mind chasing Roma, they are as formidable as Juventus but the Old Lady are 4th, just 2 points behind us and surely the most likely to string together the results to ruin our season.

Purk is the top scorer with 13 in 30, I know Serie A is tough but that’s quite lean by anybody’s standards. The transfer window has closed though so there is nothing we can do for the rest of this season. A late move for Ian Wright fell through, which is probably for the best.

I really hope to see you next week for the finale to this season. Barcelona, an 11 team title race, Genoa cake. What’s not to like? See you then.