New England Soccer Today

Toja Party?

Their record and recent form may not suggest it, but the soccer gods must be smiling upon the Revolution.

Two months ago, the Revolution inherited the top spot in the Allocation Process after Vancouver traded first dibs to Philadelphia, which used it to select Bakary Soumare. And during those two months, the Revolution held the trump card tight, as names like Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Luis Robles were floated from Framingham to Farmington.

Then, just when it seemed as if they’d be forced cash it in for draft picks and cash with season coming to close, the posibility of Juan Toja arrived last week after the two-time MLS All-Star signed with the league. Lo, someone was about to find themselves with the charismatic Colombian in their possession.

But which team would it be? Publicly, the Revolution braintrust pondered their options. Mike Burns and Jay Heaps both said they liked him, but also mentioned offers were made for the spot. No doubt a player of Toja’s caliber would be welcome addition to any club in dire need of midfield help. So they did what any front office would do: wait and see.

It’s unknown if any offers swayed the front office enough to give a trade serious consideration. Yet, given the Revolution’s current – and perhaps future predicaments – they ultimately decided to sign the 27-year-old midfielder.

How fortuitous.

Earlier this month, the Revolution traded away Shalrie Joseph, a player who filled two important roles: team captain and linchpin of the attack. Yes, the skipper’s skills may have been in decline. And yes, he may not have fully invested himself in the Jay Heaps Way.

But even so, his influence on the field certainly remained during the first half of the season. And so it begged the question: who could possibly fill Shalrie’s shoes?

Well, the Revolution may have answered that question on Monday: Juan Toja.

Much like Joseph, the 6-1 midfielder brings a fantastic mix of grit and ability in the middle of the park. Call it rugged bravado or whatever you want – either way, it’s an element the Revolution have greatly missed in recent weeks.

But wait: there’s more. In addition to his penchant for pressing the issue in the most critical area of the field, Toja has the ability to feature out on the left. And, yes, he can send in a decent cross going down the flank.

And while he may not be the set piece artist the team has desperately needed all season, his height and fearlessness inside the box allows him to become the perfect target on a corner or free kick inside the attacking third. Just send it in his direction.

In short, he gives the Revolution the whole package: tenacity, strength, an attacking mentality, and obvious technical abilities. And the most intriguing part? At 27, he’s just entering his prime.

Granted, it’s premature at this point to call him a godsend or savior. But at first glance, it would appear he has the requisite qualities to help rescue a team that’s fallen on hard times. It’s not often that a proven MLS player falls right into the lap of the one team that could use him the most.

And while the team could certainly benefit from his skills and soccer smarts, Toja could prove even more valuable for the bigger picture – especially if Benny Feilhaber leaves during the offseason.

But right now, it’s all but a given that the Revolution are getting a player who promises to bolster its form for the rest of the season. A player who can change the tempo of a game and force their opponent to bend to their will, rather than the other way around.

Clearly, if the Revolution could construct a player who could change their fortunes in the midfield, he’d look a lot of Toja (give or take the glorious mullet, of course).

In short, the cards seemed to have fallen just right for the Revolution. Despite the sentiment that they should’ve snagged Robles or waited out Bocanegra (who may not return to MLS until next year), they stuck to their guns.

Even with hindsight, the fact is the team took the best deal offered: the services of a proven player who, not that long ago, thrived in MLS. A player who, by all accounts, still has plenty of gas left in the tank. A player who may, just may, help steer the Revolution back to the postseason in 2013.

Maybe the soccer gods are, in fact, smiling upon the Revolution.

7 Comments

Leave a Reply