You know the old saw about a talented soccer player who relies on just one foot, right?
About a guy who is overly prone to use his left foot, for instance, we would say, “He only uses his right foot for standing.”
The words have never been more spot-on than with Juan Toja, the mulleted one-year wonder at FC Dallas, who is back for a second spin of the MLS wheel.
Toja was technically an MLS man for a season and a half. But he was truly a “wonder” only in 2007, when the left-sided midfielder quickly established himself as an out-of-nowhere dynamo. Using almost exclusively his left foot, Toja earned a place at that year’s MLS All-Star contest. He even scored there, helping MLS earn a 2-0 win over Scotland’s Celtic at DSG Park outside Denver.
By 2008 the wanderlust had apparently kicked in. Toja was OK, but clearly not the same driven soul. (Even if he did retain the Jim Morrison-inspired mullet.) He wanted to be in Europe; FC Dallas sold the Colombian midfielder to Romanian side Steaua Bucharest in July of 2008.
The Bucharest stay lasted two years; Toja was then at Aris in Greece for two years.
I think it’s safe to assume that wherever he lands in MLS, he will probably remain in place for about … wait for it … two years.
The trend looks pretty clear.
So, where will Toja land? That’s tricky, because he’s subject to Major League Soccer’s allocation process. The order is down below.
Here’s the deal: we are fairly late in the season, so there probably will not be many more players subject to the allocation pecking order. So, grab him, right?
But hold on there, trigger! It’s a gamble. Because Carlos Bocanegra remains out there; it’s probably a long shot, but I’m saying there’s a chance. And he would absolutely be worth it.
Plus, someone else might just tumble in unexpectedly prior to the mid-September roster freeze.
So, teams high in this order must decide: A) If Toja is worth whatever contract number for which he’s been signed by MLS, and; B) Do they feel lucky, as in, will they not miss out on something better by using their spot in the allocation order?
Here’s the allocation order, which will re-set at the end of 2012.
- 1) New England Revolution
- 2) Toronto FC
- 3) Chivas USA
- 4) San Jose Earthquakes
- 5) D.C. United
- 6) Portland Timbers
- 7) Chicago Fire
- 8 ) Columbus Crew
- 9) FC Dallas
- 10) Vancouver Whitecaps
- 11) Seattle Sounders
- 12) Sporting Kansas City
- 13) Real Salt Lake
- 14) Houston Dynamo
- 15) LA Galaxy
- 16) Montreal Impact
- 17) Colorado Rapids
- 18) Philadelphia Union
- 19) New York Red Bulls
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- wesbadia - Aug 24, 2012 at 10:58 AM
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Is there really any reason to believe that, at this point, Boca will be leaving Rangers and coming state-side now? All the signs are pointing to him staying in the SPL. Even if he doesn’t, I can’t see how Klinnsman will consider it an upgrade for a staple defender to move outside of Europe. Feilhaber had the same problem when the Revs picked him up last year, and how many caps has he had since then (a former midfield staple under Bradley)?
I think it’s safe to say that the Revs could take a gamble and select Toja, especially considering they’ve freed up enough salary with the exits of Joseph, Moreno, and Lozano to probably afford the guy. No doubt they need scoring power, too. Only a handful of goals have been scored over the last few weeks and Sene looks like he’s tapering off.
That being said, I’d love to see him at Chivas. Remembering his flare from his FCD days, I think it’d bring a lot to the very dim style the Goats have been exhibiting this year. Not to mention they could use additional power up top. And with only being 10 pts out of a playoff spot (Revs are 14 pts out and probably won’t have enough to challenge DC) and with 4 games in hand over the Whitecaps (5 over Dallas), I think Chivas could have a legitimate chance at making the post-season. Toja could be the key to generating the energy needed at Chivas to help them in the final leg of the season.
Plus, being at 3rd in the order, and not having much time nor opportunity remaining for a good signing, I think Fraser would be wise to cough up some incentive to make a trade to the Revs for the chance at Toja. Who or what that could be, I’m not sure. Something of the Moreno or JPA caliber? Or maybe just money and a draft pick. Guess it depends on how much Heaps wants to plan for next year.
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- Steve Davis - Aug 24, 2012 at 12:37 PM
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Lots of good thoughts there. Here’s the thing: based on his track record (Two years, move on), should be be at any building or re-building club? I’d say New England and Chivas both fall into that category. He might be a better fit for a club that’s looking to strengthen itself for a run this year. Either way, it’s all about that salary number, which we don’t know yet.
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- wesbadia - Aug 24, 2012 at 2:14 PM
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Good thought about his duration of time with clubs. Chivas is definitely a building team (have been for years now), and NE have been re-building since ~2008ish. But does Chivas’ possibility of making the playoffs ahead of Vancouver and FCD (games in hand and all of that) put them in a spot to pick up Toja and use him to vault themselves not only into a playoff race, but into a solid start to the 2013 season next year? I’d say Chivas is not just a building team, but a team that could come out looking really good next year depending on what they do in the off-season. Then again, so could NE…
What are the odds of someone like RSL or DC (both with lackluster strikers as of late) picking him up to aid in the attack? Not sure he’d be a good fit for Kreis’ squad, but Olsen might take the opportunity to pick him up for a short-term fix and boost themselves in the playoffs.
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- futbolhistorian - Aug 24, 2012 at 12:38 PM
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MLS just doesn’t go out and sign guys that are playing abroad. At least one team has probably approached MLS about getting Toja back to MLS (after the agent approached all teams). So now the question is, which team(s) was it, and do they have to try to work their way up the allocation order via trade to ensure they get him? Or is there minimal interest from other teams and that team will be able to just get him without having to make any moves.
