Revs Richie Baker and Steve Howey return to their native countries Both international players available to pursue opportunities with other teams Foxborough, Mass. -- The Revolution announced today that midfielder Richie Baker will return to his native Republic of Ireland and that defender Steve Howey has returned to England. Both players have been given permission to negotiate with other clubs and pursue playing opportunities outside of Major League Soccer. "Richie Baker and Steve Howey are good players who helped the Revolution while they were here. The club wishes them both the very best in the future," said Revolution technical director Joe Cummings. "Richie contributed valuable minutes for the Revs this past season and was an exemplary pro off the field. I'm confident that both players will find the kinds of opportunities they seek on the other side of the Atlantic." Baker was signed by MLS and the Revolution as a Discovery Player on February 4, 2004 as a Transitional International. The former Ireland youth international appeared in 20 matches for the Revs, starting 11 of those games. Baker posted six assists on the season, good for fourth on the team in that category. Howey, a former England international, was signed as a Senior International on August 26, 2004 and appeared three times for New England before a quadriceps injury prevented him from playing for the rest of the season. Both Baker and Howey would have counted as Senior Internationals for the 2005 season.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but these announcements (players leaving) are usually followed closely by another (players arriving). No doubt that these 2 players were let go to make way for an SI signing during the January transfer window. I wonder if it's just planning ahead or if there is someone imminent.
Howey helped the team? Sorry if I seem like a pessimist, but exactly how many games did he play in and exactly how did he help this team?
They couldn't even use Howey as a traffic cone. The cones were more mobile than he was even before the injury. I'll miss Baker. He always looked like he was having fun out there and could make things happen. Is he worth a SI slot? Probably not.
Unless the arriving players already play in MLS, we wont hear anything til the new year. That's how the Transfer Window works.
It's called letting a guy leave with some class, plus having other folks view your organization as a professional one that isn't petty. While we on these boards can be as negative as we want, the club does need to act, publicly, at a different level. This is good news and it was done before the January transfer window.
More good news: Feyenoord Pass On Dempsey http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/Breaking_News/page_131_85853.shtml
this article isn't clear whether or not these players would be under contract next year. it does point towards free transfers though (obviously for Howey) i know the revs had an option on Howey, likely will decline. Has it been made clear if Baker would have been under contract had the Revs demanded he stay? edit: found this https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3496777&postcount=2 so anyone know how long the Revs could have extended his contract for?
At least this frees up some money. Let's see what we can do with it. Howey never got a chance to show what he could do before being injured. I'm rather indifferent about him leaving. Baker was fun to watch for his work ethic. His crosses from the right side often needed more elevation, however. He would have been a SI this year due to his age and I don't think he's SI caliber. Still, a good guy who will be missed.
Both Baker and Howey had contracts for the 2004 season, with team-held options for 2005. As such, the Revs have decided not to exercise those options, and have released the players so they may immediately explore opportunities abroad. Baker quite obviously has one, but Howey's... Howey's will probably limited for a number of significant reasons.
I wonder how much. Maybe 80k for Howey and 50k for Baker? The real money is tied up in JMM (@220k), Cancela (@140k), and Lamossa (@90k?) as I recall. I'd also suspect Joseph and Dempsey want to renegotiate (into the 90-110k range I'd bet). Another reason I suspect to see Cancela gone (though I hope not).
Howey's contract probably doesn't free up much, since he was only signed for the end of the season (maybe 1/5th of a full-season salary?). Dempsey and Joseph may want to renegotiate, but if they are under contract still, they have limited ability to do so. OTOH, it would be in MLS' interest to explore extensions with them.