Thought I'd let you know. He'll be leaving my team (Shelbourne) after a good few years during which he's even had trials with Man U. Inconsitent but excellent winger on his day, fast as lightning and a scores some class goals from the wing. Good technique, he should be an assett for you if you sign him. He was out of form for the start of the season but was outstanding in the latter part of the title winning year, if he can keep that form up after his move he could be a big success for you.
It's a bit of an insult to Baker to even ask that really Keegan is useless, what he's doing at a club as good as Bohs is beyond me, though they should be getting rid of him close season. By the way, about the last bit in that quote about the Irish American striker they mentioned, is he any good at all?
I don't think most MLS fans were aware that he had an Irish passport... but he's a pretty decent player. Apparently forced his way into the starting lineup ahead of Joe-Max Moore, who I assume still gets some respect in Europe. Including both regular-season and playoffs: 31 appearances (20 starts, 11 substitute), 12 goals, 7 assists.
Those are definitely good statistics, he could be one to keep an eye on. The Irish connection may turn out to be nothing though, is he close to recieving any kind of international caps with the US as it is?
Richie Baker SQUAD NUMBER 11 POSITION Midfield BORN Dublin 17 April 1980 PREVIOUS CLUBS Stella Maris TRIVIA Richie joined Shelbourne's Youths from Stella Maris and quickly progressed to Shelbourne's first team. He has been capped at Under 18, 20, and 21 level for the Republic of Ireland. He can play wide on the right or left and he's one of the best prospects in the National League. He made his league debut against Shamrock Rovers in August 1998 and was selected by the PFAI as the Young Player of the Year for the 1999/2000 season.
Name: Richie Baker Birthdate: 4/17/80 Bithplace: Dublin, Ireland Position: Midfield Current Club: Shelbourne FC (Eircom League, Premier Division) Previous Club(s): Stella Maris Bio courtesy of Shelbourne’s Official Web Site: “Richie joined Shelbourne's Youths from Stella Maris and quickly progressed to Shelbourne's first team. He has been capped at Under 18, 20, and 21 level for the Republic of Ireland. He can play wide on the right or left and he's one of the best prospects in the National League. He made his league debut against Shamrock Rovers in August 1998 and was selected by the PFAI as the Young Player of the Year for the 1999/2000 season.” He currently has three goals on the season for Shelbourne. Went on trial to Bristol Rovers in England in February 2001. At the time the club placed a transfer fee of £125,000 On the player. He has also gone on trials with Dundee United, with his brother Dessie (also playing for Shelbourne) having had a spell with Manchester United in the mid-1990’s Was 1999/2000 National League United U-21 Player of the Season. He finished 3rd that same year in voting for the Premier Division Player of the Season. Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) Young Player of the Year: 1998/1999 and 1999/2000
The Revs assistant GM told me he was just called up to the national team. No clue what that means since they don't have any games scheduled.
If he's anything like Ronnie in Dallas, I'd love to see him in a Revs uniform. He'd be a great pickup, especially since he plays on the outside in the midfield.
Aidan Fitzmaurice, scribe for the Dublin Herald, e mailed me a few weeks back to say this guy was coming and that he's pretty good. We'll see if SN thinks so. JIM DOW
The two main issues will be: 1) Is he available on a free transfer. If not, see ya 2) Is he good enough to take a foreign slot? That's the real killer. Foreign players have to be either a fading "name" at a low cost or someone young, and passed over for one reason or another, again at a low cost. I could not understand Cancela hadn't hooked up with a bigger team until I saw the Fire game. Under pressure, he disappeared. THis kid looks like JMM's younger brother.
Finished second in rookie of the year behind a guy who is going to be absolutely great (Damani Ralph). If Noonan was a step or two faster he'd be an astounding prospect, as is he's a very good one. However, I think he's very close to getting a US Cap. If this Baker can play on the left, he could be exactly what the Revs need. If he's as good as they say a Revs attack of: RM - Ralston AM - Cancela LM - Baker CF - Noonan CF - Twellman With JMM getting a lot of playing time at all of those spots. That would be very solid indeed. Lacking a bit of pace, but you play the cards you're dealt.
Full article from today's Irish Independent: Baker sets sights on his piece of American pie Friday November 28th 2003 By Gerry McDermott http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=12&si=1084178 WITH a third League championship medal in his back pocket, Shelbourne winger Richie Baker has now turned his sights on fulfilling his American dream. The 23-year-old winger will fly out to the States next week for trials, starting with MLS side New England Revolution, in a bid to win a playing contract for next season. "I want to give it a go. I've done a lot in the five years I've been playing in the Eircom League. It's been unbelievable and I couldn't really ask for any more. "I'm really looking forward to giving it a go. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, I can always come back," said Baker. He will bid farewell to the Shelbourne faithful at Tolka Park tonight when the Reds face Shamrock Rovers in their final league game of the season and receive the Eircom League Championship trophy afterwards. His form, and goals, over the final few weeks of the season played a huge part in Shelbourne's title success and he's delighted to be leaving on such a high note. "The last couple of weeks I've been flying and I really wanted to leave having won the league." Baker goes to America with an impressive CV. As well as winning three league titles with Shels he also picked up an FAI Cup-winners medal in 2000 and won several player of the month awards as well as the young player of the year award two years running. On the international front he won a bronze medal with Ireland at the European U-18 Championships in 1999 having earlier been part of the Irish squad at the World Youth Cup Finals in Nigeria. He's also been capped at U-21 level. A brother of former Manchester United starlet Dessie, Baker has been touted as the Eircom League's next big export for several seasons since he burst into the Shels first team as a precocious 18-year-old in 1998. "There was always a load of talk and to tell you the truth I didn't listen to most of it. I was over on trial with Middlesbrough, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Dundee United, QPR and others. Bristol Rovers did put in an offer but Shels weren't happy with it at the time. But I was happy at Shels as I didn't really want to leave anyway." Baker also has another very important reason for going to America as his girlfriend Nadia moved to Boston six months ago to join her two sisters and brother who have been living there for the past ten years. Nadia is a daughter of former Shelbourne and Ireland international Eric Barber and he, along with Baker's own family, has been a great support. "He's talked to me about it and he enjoyed his time over there with Kansas City. He did really well and was top goalscorer there for a while. He said that while I was young I might as well give it a go. All the players at Shelbourne have also been telling me that now is the right time to go." Baker is also due to visit Kansas City and several other MLS clubs in his bid to win a playing contract for 2004.
MLS is definitely a higher level - quite a few players have played in both the Eircom League and the A-League, and generally performed similarly or slightly better in Ireland. That suggests that the Eircom league is around A-League standard.
Sounds like a fit for the Revs. We have an allocation but it sounds like this Lad is out of contract and would be a free transfer/ OTOH he deosn't sound like someone we would use an allocation to sign. Are the Rev players still around? How will this dude get a tryout if most of the squad is on Holiday?
From what I've seen the overall standard of the MLS is higher then the Eircom League but I'd say the better Eircom League sides could hang with some MLS sides and the better Eircom League players would make it over there, then again I've not seen that much of the MLS. The Eircom League is, I'd say, about second divison of England standard on average with some stand out players who could preform at a higher level.
i would say that mls is mid to high-table english 1st division standard with premiership-quality players sprinkled throughout the league... if baker is a standout in the eircom league (presumably an a-league quality league) and coming from the championship side, then he should definately be able to compete in mls... the question remains however, whether or not a team is willing to use a foreign player slot on him.
At his best, Baker is definitely a stand out in the EL. His only problem is consistency, he'll presumebley be very motivated so show his best form in the MLS so he should be playing at his best so he should be able to play very well.
regarding the notion of "is he good enough for an SI spot", the revs have two SI's that should be replaced with better SI's (Kante and Fabbro). So dropping or trading Fabbro to open up an SI spot to use on Richie Baker (if he's worth the hype in Nicol's eye), then I say go for it.
sounds good and all, but I'd also like to know how he is going to get a trial with the season over, haven't the players gone their respective ways by now?