It's no big secret in Frisco that new FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow wanted to make numerous changes to the roster of a team that fell disappointing short of their goals in 2006.
Morrow and the FCD brass jettisoned much of the veteran core from that squad, including all-star midfielders Richard Mulrooney and Ronnie O'Brien, captain Simo Valakari and veteran center back Greg Vanney.
But other than the players FCD selected in January's SuperDraft, the only new faces around Pizza Hut Park this season have been veteran midfielder Pablo Ricchetti, who has been signed but is still pending visa approval, midfielder Adrian Serioux, a member of Houston's 2006 MLS Cup championship team who was acquired from Toronto FC in the O'Brien trade and 21-year-old midfielder Juan Toja.
Of that group, only Toja has played for FCD this year. Serioux is on the shelf until midsummer after undergoing knee surgery right after the start of preseason and while Ricchetti and the Hoops have agreed to a contract, the Argentinean veteran has been waiting for nearly two weeks for visa approval, which would allow him to be officially added to the roster.
But Toja has been a virtual revelation in the FCD midfield. Since being signed on Feb. 28 and officially being added to the roster after the Mulrooney trade in late March, he has been a workhorse for his new club. Toja brings a nice mix of pace, a great ability on the ball and a virtual non-stop reservoir of energy.
So far this season, he has played in all five games for the Hoops and has been on the field for all but 24 of a possible 450 minutes. Morrow clearly likes what he has seen from Toja thus far.
"He keeps wanting to learn," Morrow said on Monday. "He just came and watched some video from the game (against Colorado) with me. He wants to get better and do certain things better."
"I think it's a matter of time as he gets used to his teammates. He's starting to see what his strengths are and the teammates around him. I think he's done great so far and know there's more to come from him. For me, he's only going to get better."
Toja was most recently with Argentinean superpower River Plate, and has experience with the Colombian under-20 national team, playing in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. But he has already settled in well to life in Major League Soccer.
"I feel really good," Toja said. "The teammates have accepted me both on and off the field and that helps a lot. Steve (Morrow) is putting me in a position that I know well and am used to."
For the last few games, the FCD midfield has included second-year player Dax McCarty, Ramon Nunez and Toja. It's a combination that the young Colombian feels quite comfortable being part of.
"They (McCarty and Nunez) are both really good and are two excellent players," Toja said. "To be able to play with two guys like them makes me very comfortable. They're able to knock the ball around, make touches and play effective soccer."
But like the rest of his teammates, Toja is anxiously awaiting the debut of Ricchetti, who could officially join the team as soon as next week.
"He will bring a lot of experience and will be able to keep us well-organized in the midfield," Toja said. "A lot of that is due to the experience that he brings to the team."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
