Peter Beagrie Q&A: Hard-working Jamie Vardy deserves England opportunity

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 the article.

Read on for this week's column where Beags has his say on Jamie Vardy's rise, where Fulham are falling down, the evergreen Roy Carroll, Barnsley's toils, and Dougie Freedman's future...

VARD WORK COULD PAY OFF
Jamie Vardy is supposedly on England’s radar. How good would a call-up be for someone playing in non-League not so long ago? Josh Hargreaves

BEAGS SAYS: If Jamie earned an England call-up, Josh, it would be a huge boost to people and show that with a great attitude and work ethic you can achieve great things in sport and life. Vardy would become a beacon of light for all non-League players looking for a break to get into – or back into – the Football League. There have been some meteoric rises for non-League players in recent years, particularly strikers who have been able to transfer their goal-poaching in the lower reaches to the bigger divisions. Charlie Austin, like Jamie, has gone from non-League to Premier League in a remarkably short space of time and both have continued their thirst for work and retained their hunger and desire, facets which can be diluted when success and money comes a player’s way. Jamie and Charlie are different in stature but both work tirelessly for their teams and never give centre-halves a moment’s rest, chasing every pass and seeing no such thing as a lost cause.

Vardy is quick, intelligent and brave and although he initially struggled to deal with his £1million price tag having arrived at Leicester from Fleetwood, he has dug in, believed in his ability and come out of the shadows of the brilliant David Nugent. I judge players on their effectiveness, not how easy they are on the eye, and I suppose tireless runner Danny Welbeck would be the player in the England squad whose game is most like Vardy’s. Jamie is a far better finisher than Welbeck – though it would take a brave man to put him ahead of Welbeck – and he would not let anyone down. Vardy, like Swansea winger Nathan Dyer, has the pace and intelligence to ask different questions of international defences and should he – and QPR striker Austin – hit the goal trail prior to one of the international friendlies he could be thrust into the limelight. I hope it happens as I love to see players rewarded for succeeding against the odds.

CENTRE-HALVES NEEDED
If you were Fulham manager – have you applied? – what one player would you sign on loan to help us up the table? Danny Cruttenden

BEAGS SAYS: Danny, I can honestly say that applying for the Fulham job has never crossed my mind and to be brutally honest it will take more than one player to change your season. An emphasis on youth and radical squad changes have failed to work and even at this early stage the Championship is taking its toll on your boys. The Cottagers have lots of possession in games and some good passages of play but have lacked penetration and the ruthlessness that the more physical and experienced teams display. I would build from the back and start by looking for two powerful and vocal centre-halves who may not be featuring at Premier League level. A couple who would fit the bill are Stroke’s Robert Huth and Newcastle’s Steven Taylor – strong, commanding leaders and potential captains who are dominant in both boxes and, vitally, who have stood up to the rigours of the Championship in the past. It’s going to be difficult to attract players to your wonderful football club, Danny, while you are in such a precarious position, particularly ones of the correct pedigree, but I genuinely believe such tried-and-trusted defenders who attack the ball at either end of the field will give you the opportunity to acclimatise to the division and start climbing the table. Good luck in a season that is likely to test the faith of every Fulham fan.

SINGING CARROLL’S PRAISES
Roy Carroll was great for Notts County this weekend. Is he the best ‘keeper in League One? Gerald Fisher

BEAGS SAYS: Roy is definitely the most experienced ‘keeper, Gerald. Caroll, a team-mate of mine during my short spell at Wigan, shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 37 and is performing brilliantly for your team with four clean sheets and only seven goals conceded. The former Man United and Olympiakos man has been shouting and balling, organising things in front of him and taken it personally when a goal gets past him. He could prove an inspirational signing for Sean Derry as County seem to be warming to their task. They are unbeaten away from home – a shutout at the back and a hat-trick from Jake Cassidy against Crewe saw the Magpies leap six places and into the top half in League One – and their home form should improve. As far as goalies go, Chris Maxwell at Fleetwood and Walsall’s Ryan O’Donnell – the man with the most clean sheets in the division (5) – are others in League One standing out, but Roy is definitely proving that, quite literally, you can’t beat a good old ‘un, particularly in the 1-1 draw with Chesterfield, when he made a string of outstanding saves.

TOILING TYKES
Are you surprised Barnsley have made such a poor start to the season? Leigh Garbutt

BEAGS SAYS: I am very surprised indeed at the Tykes’ poor start, Leigh. They lost players including Tomasz Cywka, Jacob Mellis, Chris O’Grady and Paddy McCourt, all of whom are now playing their trade in the Championship. Plus, Jim O’Brien has become integral for Coventry, while Kelvin Etuhu is enjoying an excellent start to the season with Bury. So Barnsley have been hit but I imagined they would have more points on the board at this stage. Of the summer signings, only Connor Hourihane has starred, with spasmodic but not consistent contributions from the others not convincing me of their long-term effectiveness.

Individually and on paper, Barnsley have a squad capable of achieving a play-off place comfortably but it is as a team and on grass where those rewards are earned and unless they click quickly that sort of finish appears beyond them. There are still plenty of points to play for and we will definitely find out more about the Tykes’ capabilities, character and possible level of achievement after the next five matches. These games are away to fifth-placed Rochdale who are unbeaten in three; a Yorkshire derby at home to ninth-placed Bradford; another tough away fixture against promotion hopefuls Peterborough; a home encounter against resurgent Notts County; and then an Oakwell clash with League One leaders and second-top scorers Bristol City, who have plundered 21 goals already with 13 shared between the prolific pairing of Aaron Wlbraham and Kieran Agard. That’s five matches in 21 days against teams in the top 10 – a scary prospect with a porous defence and a team lacking cohesion and confidence. On the flip side, some positive results could garner belief for players and fans and set Barnsley on an upward spiral. Keep believing, Leigh, as the season is still in its infancy.

FREEDMAN'S FUTURE
How long do you feel Bolton will give Dougie Freedman? Concerned Trotter

BEAGS SAYS: The question ‘How long is a piece of string?’ is easier to answer than yours, oh Concerned Trotter! The answer? Twice the distance from the middle to the end. After missing out on the play-offs by goal difference in 2012, Dougie could only lead his troops to a 14th-placed finish last term and a poor points haul has continued this season, with Wanderers winning just once since it began. Saturday’s defeat against Derby saw the Trotters drop into the relegation zone and Dougie and his team receive the bird from frustrated fans. Five points from a possible 30 is as unacceptable as it is unexpected and Dougie, as honest as they come, has admitted that himself. Freedman has tried to restructure Bolton from top to bottom and may have neglected or taken his eye off the main focus which is first-team results – it’s the only way to see long-term plans come to fruition. A self-confessed workaholic, Dougie is at pains to remedy recent results but a few performances have definitely lacked a slice of lady luck. When he took the manager’s job, Wanderers were 12 places below his then employers Crystal Palace in 16th position but obviously with ambitions of restoring their Premier League position.

Dougie seemingly thought sustainability was greater at Bolton than it was at Selhurst Park and in the modern era where chairman are not known for their patience Freedman can’t complain of a lack of support from Phil Gartside. Plus, as an intelligent man, he will know that a continued sequence of negative results will make the already-restless natives even more frustrated and insistent on proactive action. I’ve looked back on recent performances and after beating Rotherham, the Trotters were terrific against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup, unlucky against Wolves and then ran up against a Derby side getting into their stride. Defensive deficiencies have been Bolton’s Achilles heel since they were relegated from the top flight and are still very apparent on their worst days. Hopefully Dougie can turn it around but Wanderers face the best footballing side in the Championship next and Bournemouth are no respecters of reputation. Only Dougie and his staff can turn this around directly and the Scotsman may have learned that you can’t beat people at their own game after going toe-to-toe with Derby. You have to find an alternative way to win and expose your opposition’s weaknesses.

Reading on skysports.com? Then send your question to Beags using the feedback form at the bottom of this page or at the base of any of his articles...