Two for TFC?

Canadian duo available after being released in England

With the close of the English league seasons, there have been a pair of players come available that might figure into the near future of Toronto FC.

Tomasz Radzinski and Paul Peschisolido have both figured in the recent history of both the Canadian national side and varying levels of English football. As Canadians, they would seem to be a natural fit for Canada's only MLS side. Just as Jim Brennan made the move from England to North America, both Radzinski and Peschisolido are in a position to follow.

Radzinski would be the most logical choice for head coach Mo Johnston to take a crack at signing. He was released by Fulham FC on May 22, after turning down a appearance-based contract offer from the club in late 2006.

He was a good Premiership goalscorer, which would figure to translate easily into a good MLS goalscorer. Radzinski has transformed his game in recent seasons, morphing from a out-and-out striker to a player who is comfortable in a forward midfield position, on a wing or just behind a striker.

He would add age to a veteran TFC club, but if utilized in a midfield role in the MLS, he would prove to be valuable to the fledgling club. Growing up in Mississauga, TFC would provide the opportunity for him to become a hometown-favourite type player. And at 33, Radzinski could continue to contribute to the Canadian national set-up (his last cap was in March) with regular play and without the arduous travel often involved with playing club football in Europe.

Peschisolido is a different case. At 36, he is older than Radzinski. He also no longer features in the Canadian side, playing his last international match almost 3 years ago. Also a striker, he was recently released by Derby County after their promotion to the Premier league, starting in the playoff final against West Brom at the new Wembley.

Pesch has managed to maintain a high level of performance, but he would seem to be a less likely candidate to make the move back to Canada. His wife, Karen Brady, is employed by Birmingham FC and the couple have two children. One would conclude that he would seek work in the English lower divisions before leaving Britain.

Clearly this is mere speculation. Radzinski could certainly find work in England, but there are compelling reasons to think that a properly ambitious Mo Johnston (and MLSE, TFC's owners) could see the attraction of luring such a player. Pesch would be well received in Toronto to be sure, as he has always been one of the more dynamic performers on the pitch for Canada. Circumstance will likely stand in the way of such a move occurring, however.

Their Little Big Horn

A great deal of the talk in the English media as well as the American media have pegged England's match tomorrow as the make-or-break match for manager Steve McClaren. I'd certainly have to agree. His failure to break away from the same habits and tendencies that were despised in his predecessor, Sven Goran Eriksson, have him equally despised by the England faithful. Anything less than a victory against Estonia will certainly lead to his firing or will at least see him fall on his own sword, sparing the FA bosses the embarrassment of the past 11 months.

The other culprit who needs to be wary of an England loss is midfielder Frank Lampard. He has somehow earned the undying trust of his manager, being included despite well over a year's worth of lacklustre performances for the national side. While it almost goes without dispute that Lampard is an great player, even great players need to be dropped if they fail to perform.

An England failure in Tallinn will likely mean the end of McClaren, hence continued Lampard failures while wearing the Three Lions will make the choice about his future selection as clear to the next England manager as it should to the current one.