Wanes record only looks the more impressive when you consider the constant departures he’s had to deal with. Don’t get me wrong I still think he’s under a lot of pressure this season because last season was the first year under him where not only was the style of play nit the most attractive but we also lost more games then in any of his previous seasons.

It’s a big big year for Wane. His legacy at the club us set in stone for me but if he wants to keep adding to it, he’s going to need more performances like the Salford and Hull games and less of the Wire showing. It’s a huge game for the players confidence and the fans belief in the team on Friday night imo. The amount of negativity after that Wire game was pretty unbelievable but that will be nothing compared to what we’ll see unless it’s a convincing display on Friday.

I'd go even further than that. I'd say that to lose on Friday doesn't bear thinking about - either for us or Shaun Wane.

The wounds of last year are still too raw, and yet, superficially at least, almost nothing at team level has changed.

People are nervously anticipating a re-run of last year. Warrington hinted at that. A Widnes defeat would confirm it for many, especially as Wigan will almost be a full-strength.

This really is a very important fixture.

One of the reasons it’s so big is because of what is to follow. I can’t help but feel we’re going to need to be full of confidence and energy to get over two teams who embarrassed us at points last season in Wakey and then Castleford. They’re both way bigger sides then us and both love nothing better then to get one over Wigan. If they smell blood then it’ll only add to the pressure.

On the flip side, we can really get some momentum and right a few wrongs in the next few weeks. The optimist says let’s lay some ghosts to rest and get our swagger back. If we do well these next few weeks then we’ll all feel better and have that bit more confidence in the side.

Well that just goes to show relying on statistics is no good. We were second highest try scorers yet finished where we did and won nothing. So when it mattered something wasn't good enough. It's no good scoring a shed load against a poor side in a league game making your average look good if you don't score enough when it matters against the better sides.

The whole debate about Shaun Wane falls down to two things for me;

- Has our play improved?
- Is our squad good enough?

The answer to both questions is a resounding no IMHO.

Yes we’re only 4 games in but I haven’t enjoyed watching a single Wigan game this season. The showing v Hull & Souths in Australia were poor, trumped only by the Warrington display. The Salford/Widnes games were okay but certainly nothing to shout home about.

The HB partnership between Powell and Williams just doesn’t work. Powell is not good enough to be a Super League #7. He is however good enough to be a hooker. Williams needs an organizing HB partner, without that his game falls to pieces and he resorts to the hop/skip/dummy which worked well in his debut season but is easily predicted these days.

Sam Tomkins is not a Super League FB either. His game has also taken a huge decline in the recent seasons and his attitude has taken a nose dive along with it. He is constantly bitching and whinging to the referee acting much more like a petulant child than a rugby league role model. He’s a talented player but he needs to concentrate on his game rather that acting up. If he did that he would be a much better asset to Wigan and England. I’ve taken a serious disliking to him.

That being said, he is and should be at HB with Williams using his vocal skills to the profit of the team by organizing and ordering them around the field.

Our style is poor and hasn’t changed one iota from last season, the only change I can see is this awful “switcheroo” involving Escare/S Tomkins/Powell & Leuluai. It isn’t exciting, speedy or unpredictable. It’s the opposite and SW is stubborn enough to not change it. His blinkers are well and truly on, he can’t be told and he won’t be told.

Our squad is by no means a bad squad but I feel there is a lot of deadwood floating about it and we could do with releasing said deadwood and bringing quality replacements in. Players such as Tautai, Isa, Sutton, Navarette, Leuluai, J Tomkins - they are no longer good enough for a side looking to win all. Sarginson didn’t make that list given he has only just re-signed but he needs to show a vast improvement on what he has shown so far because it’s been poor.

It’s been mentioned elsewhere about the size of the squad (physically) and they are small compared to past seasons. It shows in our go forward and our lack of gaining ground through our forwards. Clubb is poor in attack but defensively sound. Flower is just ok at both. It is rather surprising our lack of size given SW’s eagerness to give us size after Madge and his former playing position. It sounds like a never ending request - we need new props.

This season is huge for SW and for Wigan. Does every coach have a shelf life? I’m not sure, it takes a special and adaptable coach to last a long time ala Fergie or in rugby league terms Brian McDermott. I just don’t see that SW is adaptable, he’s certainly special because of his achievements with the club throughout his entire team coaching the juniors up to the first team. I don’t think you could quantify his achievements and the benefit the club has had from his efforts but his time is coming to an end at Wigan. He’ll go down as a club legend- quite rightly too but he is no longer the man for the job.