Peter Beagrie Q&A: Are Rhodes and Gestede best strikeforce in Championship?

Peter Beagrie is here to answer 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 a team, player, match or incident that has caught your eye, a wider point on the Football League or something a little left field, then send it in via the feedback form at the bottom of this page (web version only).

Read on for this week's column where Beags has his say on the best strike partnerships in the Championship, Norwich's title hopes and Russell Slade's future...

Hi Beags! There is much debate as to who the best striker in the Championship is and many would lean towards Jordan Rhodes, Britt Assombalonga or a striker from their supported team. However, who in your opinion has the best strikeforce in the league? Tom Gee

BEAGS SAYS:  Brilliant question Tom. You rightly point out a couple of terrific, prolific strikers who are already up and running on the goal trail this season. However, if we are talking striking partnerships then we have to take a lot into consideration, particularly as playing two strikers is seen as quite old-fashioned and the system employed and preferred by a lot of clubs now is 4-2-3-1. However, here are a few to ponder…

Rudy Gestede and Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn) - They have already shared eight goals equally between them, carrying on from where they left off last season. Giant former Cardiff striker Gestede has lifted some of the burden from the goal machine Rhodes, actually outscoring him at the end of last term, finishing with 13 goals to his name, while Rhodes got 25. Even more impressively they have 28 goals between them in 28 starts together. It’s hard to argue against this pairing in terms of productivity at the business end of the pitch. Physicality, great movement, combination play… just a few of the strengths these two display week-in and week-out.

Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town) - This is another deadly duo re-establishing themselves as a force early on in this new season. They enjoyed a great spell last term before McGoldrick’s unfortunate injury, but his partner excelled in his absence, sometimes ploughing a lone furrow up front for the Suffolk side. Back together they complement each other brilliantly; Murphy is great into feet, is a real focal point and a tireless worker for the team – there’s no such thing as a lost cause when Daryl is on the pitch! His partner often capitalises on knock-downs and scraps caused by the big Irishman’s presence. McGoldrick loves to peel out wide, run the channels and then take players on and get shots off from distance. He has always had an eye for the spectacular and Ipswich fans will have breathed a sigh of relief when the transfer window came and went and Super Mac was still a Tractor Boy. Five goals between them is only half the story really; this partnership runs teams ragged and are the main reason for Ipswich’s excellent start.

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Matty Fryatt and Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) - Although they haven’t started the last couple of games together, this combo is a marriage made in heaven. Unsung hero Fryatt has the knowledge and know-how to go with Britt’s pure individual brilliance and pace. Their intuitive play was there in abundance in Forest’s unbeaten start to the campaign before gaffer Pearce opted to tinker with his system.

Lewis Grabban and Cameron Jerome (Norwich City) - Another pairing pulling up trees is Norwich duo Grabban and Jerome (which sounds like a singing duo from the '90s!). Cameron’s impact at Norwich has been amazing. He’s back to his best with six goals in as many games and Grabban has been repaying his £3million fee with interest. If these two retain their hunger, current form and fitness, ably assisted by Nathan Redmond, the Canaries could be very chirpy come May.

Igor Vetokele and George Tucudean (Charlton) - Last, but not least is the pleasantly surprising partnership that has blossomed at Charlton. Vetokele has been a revelation, terrorising defences with his never-say-die attitude and direct running, getting his rewards with five goals already. These two are not to be underestimated and really complement each other.

Worth a mention – Kike / Vossen (Middlesbrough), Kike / Tomlin (Middlesbrough), Deeney / Vydra (Watford), Wilson / Kermorgrant (Bournemouth), Nuhiu / May (Sheffield Wednesday), Murray / Cox (Reading)

I think the biggest disappointment has been the failure of Cardiff to find a partner for Kenwyne Jones from the eight options available. If they had, maybe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would still be there. If I was an out-of-work manager looking at that squad of players, I would offer my services free of charge because, for me, it’s the strongest squad in the Championship!

How key is it that Derby have tied down Richard Keogh to a new deal? Stan Wilcox

BEAGS SAYS:  Richard Keogh is a very important cog in Derby’s well-oiled machine. His partnership with Jake Buxton has been the platform their maverick style of football has been built on. He is a talker, a leader and a great competitor – he has been a marvellously consistent performer since his capture from Coventry City many moons ago. Richard is quick, strong and was a full-back in his Carlisle days, so he can play out from the back. Steve McClaren has convinced many of last year’s top performers to commit their future to County, despite overtures from other potential top Championship and Premier League suitors. Craig Bryson, Jeff Hendrick, Will Hughes and Jamie Ward, in particular, have drawn admiring glances after terrific trailblazing seasons. County saw a huge progression, if not promotion, last year, and getting Keogh to put pen to paper is another coup as he is a quality player, but also an exemplary professional both on and off the pitch, admired and respected by players and fans alike. His only faults for me are his dodgy hairstyle and insistence on being involved in every conversation with the referee – both of which I was also guilty of in my playing days!

Hi Beags. I think it’s utter madness that Russell Slade is under pressure at Leyton Orient. What do you think? Jo Morrisey

BEAGS SAYS:  Jo, like you, I think it is utter madness. Russell has done a remarkable job at the O’s, putting together a side capable of playing exciting, expansive, winning football. He has blooded youngsters and got the best from seasoned campaigners and I felt for him last season at Wembley. Moses Odubajo was a big loss, but the new recruits looked to guarantee success at this level and I am sure they will still prove their worth if the lunatics remain in the asylum and Russell is left to his own devices, which he surely deserves. League One is a very tough nut to crack with some big clubs who have invested and strengthened their squads, but I still fancy Orient’s chances of sealing a top-six place. Jobi McAnuff and Darius Henderson will silence the doubters, I am sure, over the course of this season and justify their signings. Their experience could be vital if the O’s are involved in the pandemonium of the Play-Offs.

Are Norwich major contenders to not just get automatic promotion, but be champions?  A Canary

BEAGS SAYS:  They certainly are, sir / madam! Nestled nicely in second position after an excellent start, the Canaries look solid in defence, combative and creative in midfield and potent up front. After an opening-day loss to revitalised Wolves, Norwich have gone unbeaten and have beaten fancied sides like Watford, Blackburn, Ipswich and Cardiff. They also put newly-promoted Brentford to the sword in an emphatic 3-0 victory. Draws with Bournemouth and Birmingham have made it 17 points from a possible 21 for Neil Adams’ side. New signing Cameron Jerome has announced his arrival with six goals in six games, including two against his former side Birmingham at the weekend. Norwich definitely have the ability and the squad to remain in the top two if they can keep key players fit. It’s always a joy and a pleasure to go to Carrow Road and I’m sure you and your fellow Canaries  will support them all the way in what always proves to be a long and arduous season in the Championship. Will Neil Adams have the knowledge and know-how in his first job to get Norwich a return to the Promised Land in his first job?

Hi Peter, I was just wondering how you used to switch off and get away from football during your playing days. Golf? A business of some sorts? Or because you seem to love football so much, did you never feel burdened by it? Doug

BEAGS SAYS:  Doug, I eat, sleep and drink football so I never get sick of it. Whether you’re talking, playing or watching it’s still the best game in the world. I must admit in my playing days the best way to get some respite was to spend the day with the family – although with three kids under five “respite” is probably not the best way to describe it. I also loved a game of golf, a game which needs total concentration and focuses the mind. Myself and my Everton colleague Graham Stuart used to often take on Steve McMahon and Ronnie Whelan in what we called “Blue v Red Wed” – as Wednesday was our day off. I’m pleased to say we were dominant and very rarely picked up the substantial bar tab. To have had two careers, firstly playing and now talking about my passion for football I feel very grateful and hugely privileged. It has brought me joy and pain; great highs and a few lows but ultimately the memories, stories and friendships made along the way have made it hugely rewarding. Take the injuries out of the equation, which although torturous at the time are character-building, and I wouldn’t swap it for the world.

Reading on skysports.com? Send your question to Beags using the feedback form at the bottom of this page or at the base of any of Peter's articles...