Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves have signalled their intentions to stay in the Premier League long term, after agreeing to a club record £8 million fee to sign Burnley striker Steven Fletcher.

Fletcher will put pen to paper on a four year contract last night. The deal has broken the previous £6.5 million record fee that Wolves paid Reading for striker Kevin Doyle.

The Scotland International, 23, began his career with Scottish side Hibernian. He made his debut in the 2003-2004 season. He came of age in 2007-08, named the Scottish Football Writers' Young Player of the Year. And that season he picked up his first full international cap against Croatia. He played 189 games for the Scottish side scoring 52 goals.

Fletcher was touted for a move to Real Madrid due to Madrid's scouts watching him after he performed well for Scotland's youth sides. Manchester City and Middlesbrough were also interested in him.

He also publilcy demanded a move to admirers Celtic in January 2009, but Hibs refused to sell him. But it was Burnley who agreed a club record £3 million deal with Hibernian to sign Fletcher. Fletcher scored 8 times in 35 league games.

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey is expecting big things from the Scotland man, and said,

"He showed last season with Burnley, a team which were eventually relegated, that not only can he score goals in the Premier League but also achieve a consistent level of performance in his all-round game"

"We believe Steven's abilities and qualities will perfectly complement Kevin, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the other strikers already at this club and create some fierce competition for places up front next season."

After replacing all 10 outfield players in their 3—0 defeat to Manchester United two months ago, Wolverhampton Wanderers were handed a suspended £25,000 fine.  

Although the fine was modest at best, the Premier League Board’s decision to penalise Wolves sets a dangerous precedent.

The team sheets of football clubs all over the World are adjusted day in, day out, sometimes dramatically to suit the manager’s considerations, including the type of fixture and fitness levels of the players.

Back in 2007, Rafa Benitez rested the majority of his first team players on the penultimate weekend of the season, in a match against Fulham. Liverpool was evidently more concerned with the Champions League final, although that was a fortnight away.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock lashed out at Benitez, with some reports suggesting that Rafa was to blame in some way for Sheffield’s subsequent relegation.

Of course, Mick McCarthy’s Wolves were not preparing for a huge cup final, rather a date with fellow relegation rivals Burnley . Logic seemed to dictate that Wolves had a better chance of overcoming the might of Burnley as opposed to the Premier League champions Manchester United.

McCarthy’s selection was criticised even by his own team’s fans, though once Wolves beat Burnley, all was forgiven.

It does not take a mathematician to prove that the suspended £25,000 fine is pittance for any Premier League club.

However, by slapping Wolves with a suspended fine, the Premier League have ensured that they will be under heavy scrutiny should any team commit this offence again in the future.

And there is no doubt this offence will repeat itself. Over and over.

Just three weeks ago, Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup following a defeat to Stoke , in which the Gunners rested a host of regular starters in their team.

At the back end of last season, Manchester United put on a near-reserve team at Hull City , despite knowing that a win for Hull would send Newcastle United down. On that occasion, the furore that could have erupted remained dormant only because Newcastle failed to win their match on that day.

In 2008, Everton 's second stringers were sent packing from the FA Cup by lowly Oldham Athletic .

Last year, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa both exited the UEFA Cup after putting out weakened sides, preferring to concentrate on other interests.

Note that all of the examples mentioned occurred within a span of three years. Some took place outside Premier League jurisdiction, but they involved EPL clubs nonetheless.

As these incidents repeat themselves, the Premier League Board will have to increase the level of the fine, and if teams continue to ignore the ruling, what happens then?

Shall points be deducted? Will teams be disqualified from competitions?

The argument can also be made that the EPL authorities are only acting in the interest of the viewing public, in order to ensure that we, the fans receive football of the highest quality.

With clubs fielding their best teams weak in, weak out, theoretically the level of competition and football will remain at its peak.

Once again though, what will the Premier League do when teams say they have a host of players on the injured list?

Will all injured players be asked to take a fitness test before every kickoff? Will the football authorities conduct “injury” tests, the same way as doping tests are conducted?

This is all purely speculation of course, but by issuing such a ruling, the Premier League have left themselves open to wide plethora of scenarios, none of which seem good.

As a certain Nigel Hawthorne once said, “I foresee all sorts of unforeseen things.”

Is there a Premier League book of rules for the elite group of teams and a completely different rule book for the rest of the "pauper" teams in the league?

There was a collectively outrage throughout the Premier League when Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy thought best to field a "weaker" team against Manchester United in mid-November of last year.

Wolves have the second smallest squad in the league and faced five games in 17 days. The Wolves manager had picked up a shocking 0-1 away win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Their next opponents where Man United at Old Trafford in three days time.

McCarthy took it upon himself to rotate his team and make ten changes to the starting line-up for the encounter in Manchester. His rational for the decision was to keep his strongest side fully fit for the home tie against fellow bottom of the table team Burnley.

Wolves beat Burnley 2-0 and took all precious three points. Wolves are currently sitting in 16th place, level on points with West Ham United and Hull City, who sit above and below Wolves respectively in the table. Wolves are a single point ahead of 18th placed Bolton Wanderers and 19th placed Burnley.

If Wolves have not picked up all three points in their match against Burnley they would be sitting second from bottom two points behind the nearest two clubs. So in retrospect Mick McCarthy's decision to focus on the Burnley game paid great dividends. 

However, the Premier League have found that Wolves were in breach of Rule B13 and have subsequently been fined £25,000. A Premier League spokesman said "the club (Wolves) had failed to fulfill its obligations to the league and other clubs in the utmost good faith and was therefore in breach of Rule B13."

If there is a rule stating that teams must play there "best" or "starting 11" that is fine, but who is the judge of a teams "best" line-up. Surely only the manager of the club has the right to say what "starting 11" is best. Also why else would a team invest in a squad of 20-25 players if not to utilize them when called upon.

The main factor in this debacle is, if by fielding a weakened side or anything other than a team's strongest 11 is in fact a breach of the Premier League's Rule B13, where is Manchester United's fine.

At the end of last season Man United had tied up the Premier League title and had their focus set on the Champions League final against Barcelona. United had one remaining Premier League game against Hull City. 

Hull City where in 17th place, one point ahead of Newcastle United. A Hull City win would secure Premier League football for them for the following season. Anything other than a win and Newcastle had a lifeline for Premier League survival. 

Man United's team that played Hull consisted of no players that had played in the previous game against Arsenal. In United's starting 11 their was two reserve team players, Lee Martin and Ritchie De Laet. United also started three fringe players, Darren Gibson, Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda. The entire United substitute bench was made up of seven reserve team players.

If a team ever broke the Premier League's Rule B13 it was the side the Man United sent out to face Hull City. So why is it that Manchester United can field whatever team they deem fit but Wolves are left out of pocket?

Mick McCarthy's team selection against Manchester United on Tuesday has hit the headlines this week and former England boss Graham Taylor has laid the blame firmly at the door of the Premier League.

Wolves boss McCarthy has been asked by the Premier League to explain why he made 10 changes for the 3-0 defeat to the champions at Old Trafford.

Just days earlier Wolves had put in an energetic display to win 1-0 at Spurs, and McCarthy made the decision to rest all 10 outfield players who took part in the victory - a move which has angered managers and fans alike.

But, as Taylor points out, if you're looking for someone to blame consider the Premier League.

England's top flight has become so lucrative that staying in the league has become a must for all 20 teams and McCarthy was clearly of the opinion that his men have a better chance of beating Burnley at the weekend if he rested his stars in midweek.

At Old Trafford Wolves fans voiced their disapproval by singing: "Where is out first team?"

But that will be forgotten if Wolves manage to survive come May next year. Indeed, McCarthy will argue that the decision was made to minimise Wolves' Premier League relegation odds.

Commenting on the issue, Taylor said: "The Premier League need to be careful because they have made this situation...The commercial success of the league is fantastic.

"The FA Cup and the League Cup have both been devalued by clubs being allowed to pick under strength sides.

"What Wolves have done may start a run of it in the Premier League, particularly if they beat Burnley... You could have other clubs looking at it and deciding that is the way they will go."

Over the years numerous teams have fielded weakened sides in the Premier League but it's hard to remember the last underdog to make wholesale changes against one of the Big Four.

There's no doubt that if this happens on a regular basis then the integrity of the league could come into question.

However, if Wolves put Burnley to the sword I'm sure the Molineux fans will be singing McCarthy's name again.

Meanwhile, pundits have already begun to cast their eyes over the potential runners in next year's Grand National as they look for possible success stories.

It was a rough August for newly promoted Wolverhampton, but September's schedule may help Mike McCarthy's team find its stride.

As the first month of the highly competitive EPL season came to a close Wolverhampton found itself in 13th, with four points from four matches. A long fall from the Championship success of last season, but the caliber of play has proved well enough to generate points.

Wolverhampton's August Results: 

• 2-0 loss to West Ham (11th)
• 1-0 win @ Wigan Atl. (17th)
• 1-0 loss @ Manchester City (4th)
• 1-1 draw with Hull City (14th)

September bodes well for Wolves. In their upcoming two games Wolverhampton will play at struggling Blackburn on the 12th before returning home to take on Fulham on the 19th. Blackburn is coming off their worst finish in the EPL over the last decade, and currently in 18th place should prove to be one of the easier contests of the season.

However, Rovers gained their first positive result of the season following a draw against West Ham in their last contest. All in all, Wolves should find the net, giving Sam Allardyce another negative result. 

After an impressive season last year, 15th place Fulham has unimpressively stalled at the starting gates taking only three points from its first three contests. Although losses to Chelsea and Aston Villa can be anticipated, I think Wolves proved they can run with the higher level teams in the close defeat to Manchester City. Home field advantage gives Wolves an edge as they look to take their first victory of the season at Molineux. 

The last contest of the month will be at competitive Sunderland on the 27th. A true test, as the speed of Darren Bent, and Kenwyne Jones will cause problems on the defensive side of the ball.

While defenders Michael Mancienne, Richard Stearman, and Christophe Berra look to thwart the cheeky attempts the ever dangerous Bent presents, look for transition through the midfield to be the deciding factor.

If Wolves can take six points from this three-game span it should not be a question of whether they can avoid relegation (10 points from seven matches), but what improvements Wolverhampton will look to make to further increase the competitiveness of the squad. After all, 40 points seems to be all it takes to avoid the axe of relegation.

However, Wolverhampton is currently on pace to finish with 38. A promising September will soon change this situation. An upper half of the table breach by October is likely for Wolves' return campaign in the Premiership.