Instead it is believed that a number of the present squad are instead focussing a large proportion of their energies on producing outstanding displays against those teams where the game provides players with a shop window with which to display their talents.
The case in point would be the recent performances, and results, achieved against Liverpool and Chelsea at the DW Stadium.
The level of performance achieved in those matches by the entire team was of a level that would not see us in our present league position if replicated throughout the first half of the season.
Instead we then face Sunderland at the same DW Stadium just over a week later and the same group of players are made to look distinctly below par.
Whilst it is just an opinion, the facts seem to support the theory. In low key games, or perhaps the bread and butter fixtures that will help the Latics survive, the team are often found wanting.
Home defeats this season against both Fulham and Bolton would go a long way to support this.
It is these games that are going to keep us in the Premier League, and not the home draws against the big boys.
It would be too easy to pin-point names, but in particular there are two players out of contract at the end of the season who are often guilty of watching games pass them by.
This is a problem that needs correcting sooner rather than later, particularly as it is affecting the better players within the squad.
All the January transfer window additions in the world won't help us survive if the players won't compete in the games that matter most, and by that I mean to the club.
From a players perspective, if he out-performs his opposite number in one of the said big fixtures, then he may well have the chance of making an impression on the big clubs manager.
This may be a terribly mercinery way to look at the present Wigan Athletic set up, but with the limited level of loyalty, and the phoenominal amounts of money in the modern day game, it could well be the most realistic.
Time to focus on the club that pays your wages now, and not the club that may be paying your wages next season.
Forget all the lovely headlines of the Chelsea and Liverpool results, home defeats to Fulham, Bolton, and Sunderland are not good enough.
