Posted on Sat, May. 17, 2008

SOCCER INSIDER: FC Dallas midfielder aims to reverse slide

FRISCO -- The spark is missing. Juan Toja's hair is shorter, but still technically a mullet.

However, the spark, the flair, the dynamic soccer skills of 2007 haven't materialized this season.

Toja, 22, admitted he hasn't lived up to the high standard he set for himself.

"Last year I played so well, reached a level and everybody started to know me, know my name Toja," he said. "The difficult part is when you make something, you have to keep it."

In every soccer match, about 16 of the 22 players are simply on the field. It's those other six that determine the pace, direction and ultimately outcome of the match, whether in a positive or negative performance.

Last season Toja was regularly one of the game-breaking six in a positive way for FC Dallas. This season he's just another guy on the field, just a role player.

On Sunday, David Beckham and Landon Donovan come to Pizza Hut Park, and both Los Angeles Galaxy players are playing at an elite level.

If FC Dallas is to compete offensively, Toja must return to the form that made him an All-Star last season, when he scored as the Major League Soccer squad defeated legendary club Glasgow Celtic FC 2-0.

Toja finished second in scoring for FC Dallas last year (6 goals, 1 assist), but also provided intangibles.

He provided two-way work in the midfield, creating opportunities as well as scrambling back to defend.

He displayed a unique slide tackle on which he'd slip in and steal the ball. What made the "Toja Slide" unique was that rather than boot the ball away aimlessly, he'd quickly glide back to his feet and start the transition.

The "Toja Slide" hasn't been as sharp this season.

Toja said one reason for his drop is a knee injury he suffered in preseason that kept him from playing the final tune-up matches. He said his match fitness is close to 100 percent.

"Fitness is a problem and [so is] confidence," he said. "You really need to touch the ball and play and play. You need games and a good performance and fight and play, and that's what I need - just games."

FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow isn't worried about his %Colombian playmaker.

"I don't think he's played his best so far and he'd be the first one to tell you that," Morrow said. "I think he's not quite reached 100 percent fitness, and I think when you miss some time in preseason it knocks you back more than you would imagine..... We've got no concerns about him; he'll soon come back to his best, and I'm sure he'll start to reproduce the good form he had last season."