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Now this isn't an article criticising the players, the eleven that started against Liverpool have won us eight games already.
What it is though is summing up who out of the reserve eleven could step up and make an impact in the first team. The eleven who played against Newcastle in the Carling Cup outplayed a full strength Newcastle team, albeit Newcastle missing one or two players from injury or suspension.
It was superb football by everyone, including Gary Teale. Skoko ran the midfield and at right back, Ryan Taylor put in some of the best crosses I have seen this season, showing us how much potential he has.
In fact, that performance rates as one of, if not the best performance to date this season But who can go one further and break into the First team?
First up for inspection is Josip Skoko.
Not much has been seen from the man from Oz since his move from Turkish club Genclerberligi, only making two appearances in the first squad, coming on for the last 10-15 for the games against Liverpool and West Brom.
Before the Newcastle game, some were questioning whether Skoko was going to turn into another Andreas Johansson. Yet, he put in a man of the match performance, for me anyway, against Newcastle, embarrassing his much more expensive opponents such as twice Wigan target Scott Parker and Emre.
Skoko is good with both feet, he showed great range in his passing and did not dwell on the ball. And he also showed in the dying minutes of the game against the Toon that he can tackle, stopping Michael Chopra from scoring an almost certain and undeserved equalising goal with a brilliant sliding tackle.
It is now obvious that the reason for his lack of first team appearances has been his campaign to get Australia to the World cup.
For me and many of the Wigan fans I know, he should be starting against Chelsea, but who in replace of? Kavanagh or Francis? Kavanagh has had an on-off season up to now.
Putting in some superb performances on game, and then having a howler the next. Francis has not been superb of late neither, bought as an attacking midfielder, he hasn't been doing much attacking of late, however that is because he has been too busy defending at the other end of the pitch.
Seeing as Skoko played the role of defensive midfielder against Newcastle in a diamond formation, it seems like the best choice would be to drop Kavanagh for Skoko, as playing both of them at the same time would handicap us in terms of going forward seeing as both like to play in front of the defence.
Although, Kavanagh was an attacking midfielder at Cardiff, so that is an option to play Kavanagh and Skoko. Another player who impressed was England U21 star Ryan Taylor.
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When played, the Taylor/Chimbonda link up on the right has worked brilliantly, one holding back whilst the other darts forward. Taylor's best performance in the league I think came against Bolton, but that was at right back, which makes for a difficult yet pleasant problem.
Seeing as Taylor is a right back by trade, should a player who is a natural winger start before him. The player im referring to, is the inconsistent, yet dangerous Gary Teale.
There's no doubting he has potential, potential which he was living up to before he broke his collar bone at Stoke all that time ago.
Should Teale be next in line after Bullard, or should it be Taylor. Again, my view is that if Bullard was ever pushed into the centre, were he prefers, I would bring Gary Teale in, as it was obvious against Newcastle that he can scare defenders with his pace, his crossing seems to have improved and he undoubtedly gives us width, something we have lacked but also something the lesser teams haven't been able to manipulate up until this run of three defeats when we've come up against good opposition.
There are other players who could possibly come into the starting line up.
David Connolly was adventurous against Newcastle but I think his lack of strength could hinder his first team chances.
In defence, Matt Jackson proved that he can play at the top level, holding out Newcastle alongside Stephan Henchoz. And then there's Alan Mahon, someone who has never had a bad game when played in the centre of midfield, but who is obviously not a left winger.
One things for sure, with Paul Jewell himself revealing earlier this week that changes could be made, I would expect at least one 'new' face in the starting line up, and if your smart, you will put your money on that player being Josip Skoko.
But for who, is the big question.
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