We would have to throw this away, it would be the biggest fuck up in Premier League history.
I think 9 wins (89 points) will definitely win us the title and I wouldn't be surprised if even less, maybe 85 points, gets the job done. Record points totals would be nice, I think this side would very much deserve it, however the only thing that really matters is picking up that trophy at the end of the season.
There have been two 12 point leads thrown away in the recent-ish past. Newcastle in 1997 and United in 1998.
A Chelsea win tonight will see us having a 1
4 point lead with 17 games to go (51 points). There is still a long long way to go! Injuries, suspensions, poor referee displays, timewasting going unpunished, the opposition getting goals out of nothing...
Form comes in runs of games n'all, a winning run can easily become a losing one. It's a trend and falling out of form and getting stuck in a rut is easily done.
This is where the managing comes in from the people now called coaches. Picking the right players and tactics, fitness and recovery, all well and good but also keeping the mentality of the squad right. Focus, determination, desire, concentration, calmness...
The word i remember Mancini used more than any other was concentration. It is so important but often difficult to concentrate to a high standard all the time. Snooker players and darts players say that you can be as good as the best in ability but your lack of being able to concentrate to the highest standard is what will hold you back from being as consistent as those at the top. If you can find ways to master that, you will do well at keeping up a winning run. Also not letting standards of effort drop. You ever noticed in work yourselves, when you dip down a bit in your effort it's often hard to get back up to where you were previously? And staying calm as well. I remember seeing a video of the Barcelona squad in a Extra Time half time with Puyol going round looking like he was geeing everyone up and Guardiola having a word with him showing a "calm down" gesture. It's not about getting excited and "up for it", it's about staying calm.
It's now almost more about all of that side of things than it is team selection and tactics.