John Still's decision to manage Luton proves he remains hungry for success, says Peter Beagrie.
Beags responds to your Football League posers...
Peter Beagrie is here every week on
skysports.com answering YOUR Football League questions.
The former winger, who played over 770 games, representing clubs in all four tiers of the English footballing pyramid, including Manchester City, Everton, Bradford, Sheffield United, Scunthorpe, and Grimsby, forms part of the
Sky Sports punditry team for all the big matches in the Championship, League One and League Two.
So if you have a poser for Peter, whether it's about your team, a player, match or incident that has caught your eye, or a wider point on the Football League, make sure you send it in.
Read below for this week's column where Beags gives his take on new Luton manager John Still, York's appointment of Nigel Worthington, and Tranmere tyro Max Power.
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STILL CRAVING SUCCESS
Hi Peter, Hi Peter, What do you make of John Still's move from Dagenham to Luton? Cheers, Natalie Govan (Dagenham fan)
BEAGS SAYS: I think, Natalie, that John felt that he had earned, and owed himself, one last hurrah at a club with a rich tradition. He probably thought that the age of 62 he would not be offered another job that would excite and re-energise him like this one. I know he leaves a huge void at your club but the sequence of results between September and December has put you in a good position, considering the budget Still has had to operate with. John will feel that he has left Dagenham in far better state than he found them and I agree.
HE'S WORTH IT
Hi Peter, What do you think of Nigel Worthington's appointment at York? Seems like a great catch to me! Thanks, Ben Symes (Norwich fan)
BEAGS SAYS: Capturing the services of Nigel is a major coup for York in their first season back in the Football League, Ben. Worthington has been out of the game since leaving his international post with Northern Ireland in 2011 but has moved quickly to compensate for any rustiness by securing the services of ex-Darlington goalkeeper and Bury coach Fred Barber as his number two, and York, four points off the relegation zone, will expect Nigel to have an instant impact. The 51-year-old, who takes over a side winless in their last 11 games following Saturday's home defeat to Bradford, is more at home in his tracksuit than answering his phone in the office, and has been in a relegation battle before; he managed to keep Norwich in the Championship prior to leading them into the Premier League in 2004. Former manager Gary Mills can count himself unlucky to lose his job, but I understand the York board making a change; they have seen the side pick up six points from 33 and are desperate to safeguard their League status.
VETERAN INSTINCTS
Hi Peter, Blackburn manager Michael Appleton has suggested he's going to have a complete clear-out over the summer, but how would you go about building a side from scratch to compete for the Championship promotion places? Cheers, Sam Halling (Blackburn fan)
BEAGS SAYS: A massive clear-out can only happen if contracts are up, Sam, as most clubs will not pay the large salaries of players who have suffered Premier League relegation and then underachieved in the Championship. But to launch a promotion charge you need a mixture of experience in the spine of your side - which comes from games, not just age - and pace and athleticism in the wide areas through wingers and full-backs. If you have a consistent goal-scorer, as well, then you are laughing and Blackburn already have one in Jordan Rhodes, who is always hungry to listen and learn. Blackburn are a massive club and although not without their problems, I am led to believe that they have the sufficient finances to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion next season.
BOYD BY GEORGE
Hello Peter, Hull seem to be firing on all cylinders again and with George Boyd in our side I'm dreaming of us not only getting an automatic-promotion place but pipping Cardiff to the title, too! What do you reckon? Max Harris (Hull City fan)
BEAGS SAYS: Cardiff's wobble has seen their 10-point lead at the top of the table halved and Hull fans must be confident of an automatic promotion following the new signings Steve Bruce has bestowed upon them. Gedo and George Boyd are natural finishers and will ensure Hull's creativity, which has been there all season, leads to goals; Gedo, who has netted 17 times in his 31 appearances for Egypt, hit the ground running with five goals in his first five games, while the arrival of Boyd, a wonderfully balanced and gifted individual who will flourish in the wide open spaces of the KC Stadium, is very much Hull's gain and Peterborough and Nottingham Forest's loss. The last game of the season, against Cardiff, looks like an interesting one and could be a decider of sorts, but Tuesday night's 4-2 defeat at Crystal Palace proves you cannot take your eye off the ball and must take things one game at a time. Hull have a chance of being champions but you write off Watford, who the Tigers face at home on April 2, and Palace at your peril, Max.
POMPEY'S PLIGHT
Hi Peter, it might not be enough and it may be too little too late, but what did you make of Portsmouth's first win in 23 against Crewe at the weekend? Thanks, Mike Jones (Portsmouth fan)
BEAGS SAYS: I punched the air when Portsmouth beat Crewe, such was my delight. I really feel for the Pompey faithful who have had various false dawns and many dreams and promises broken due to people at the top of the hierarchy gambling with the club's future. However, the fight has to go on until the end and I just hope Pompey exit administration before the end of the season and survive expulsion from the Football League; relegation is, I fear, inevitable but it is not as damning as going out of business. Portsmouth must have a League team and I wish the Pompey Supporters' Trust all the best for the biggest battle the club has ever faced on or off the pitch. Keep the faith, Mike.
ASSESSING MAX'S POWER
Hi Peter, Max Power has a great name but could he cut it in the Championship if Tranmere get promoted? Thanks, Will Brown (Tranmere fan)
BEAGS SAYS: That is a big 'if' on one count and an even bigger 'if' on another, Will. I would love to see Tranmere's players and fans have a right royal knees up at the end of the season as, against all the odds, Ronnie Moore has managed to keep Rovers in the top six all through the campaign and in a top-two position for the majority of it. The Birkenhead side have not had the best of luck since goal-scoring sensation Jake Cassidy returned to Wolves and have been overhauled by some of the clubs with larger squads, but they remain in the play-off places at the expense of moneybags Bournemouth. As for Power, it would be a tall order for a player who only made his debut last season and accrued just 22 appearances this, to take the Championship by storm. The 19-year-old's chances have been limited by the performances of Sheffield Wednesday loanee Liam Palmer and captain James Wallace in the middle of the park, but with the latter now out until the end of the season, Power will get a chance to show his credentials; he must control his aggression and discipline, but I like what I have seen so far.
