As with last season there have been circumstances that have played no small part in our decline. Injuries and suspensions are the main culprit that springs to mind.
But there are other, underlying, issues that need to be addressed if we are to progress beyond perennial relegation strugglers.
First and foremost it is fair to question the desire of certain players, certainly over recent weeks, to deliver 100%.
The tail end of last season was a glorious example of what can be achieved through hard work, desire, and team work. Some of the performances witnessed were the best we are ever likely to see from a Wigan Athletic team.
It is therefore understandable that we cannot expect such high levels to be replicated week in and week out. These levels were a one-off shot at surviving in the top flight.
If current form is anything to go by it will be much the same for the Latics this season if we are to survive.
Recent performances have been borderline but the display put in against Norwich was that of a team that wanted, and deserved, to suffer relegation.
We were second to everything and had Norwich been a more capable team they would have run away with a cricket score.
Only a matter of weeks ago it was with some optimism that I looked at the fixture list as Q.P.R., Norwich, and Reading all loomed. There was a real chance to push ourselves away from the bootm three and drive towards this fabled mid-table finish that our manager likes to dream of.
Instead of picking up some much need points we have managed two draws and an away defeat, and in the process illuminated some worrying traits within our so called talented team.
Reading highlighted on Monday evening in glorious fashion to the nation just how poor they are with a dire 5-2 defeat to an uninspiring Arsenal team that found attacking the Royals all too easy.
On the other hand, Saturday's opponents Norwich are a team we can learn a lot from. Over the years I have written at length how frustrating it is to be a Latics supporter.
We play some wonderful expansive football at times and we can compete with the best when we do it. But all too often we are our own downfall as week after week for the past three and a half years under Roberto Martinez we have served up dire defensive lapses and organisation that wouldn't be seen in Sunday league.
It was the new and inventive 3-4-3 formation that lead the way in exposing team toward the tail end of last season however the Premier League have got wish to this.
Our lone striker is now left isolated whilst too much empahsis is placed on the full backs-cum-wingers who have to get through heroic workloads just to perform to an average level.
The gaps in behind the full backs-cum-wingers are then wonderfully exploited by opposition teams who pull our central back three all over the place leaving gaps right at the heart of our defence.
It is little surprise that we have the
The problem is not only formation related. Some of our present squad need to look at themselves and ask if they really want to play in the top flight.
Jean Beausejour came back from teh summer two stone overweight and he must be muching his way through a collosal amount of Chilli to keep his rounded appearance. He pops up with the assists but his overall performances have not been up to those when he first arrived.
Similarly, Franco di Santo appears to still be on international duty with Argentina such is his present impact. Hopefully his new found fame isn't going to a youthful head.
Our goalkeeper also cannot escapes criticsm. On his day Ali Al-Habsi is a top performer, but with little competition for his place the Omani international has been guilty of some key mistakes over recent weeks.
Around Kone too has gone off the boil. After such a lethal start to life in the top flight the Ivorian has tailed off in much the same way our league form has. In the same way teams have got wise to our innovative 3-4-3 formation, teams are wise to Kone and his direct football.
In short it is time for a re-think.
Do our players truely want to keep Wigan Athletic in the top flight, injuries or no injuries?
Are we going to plough the same 3-4-3 furrow on the back of its success last season or consider a plan B?
Historically the festive period is a time where we put in some big performances and pull away from trouble. At the moment this year's Christmas fixtures could well be the first nails into our Premier League coffin.