Lewis Baker- Could he make it?

[Nibs]

Don't see how he could be much worse than Oscar, get him back and let him have a run next season.

 

That was my argument even going back to the days of McEachran. When you think of some of the youngsters who haven't been given a fair crack and yet Oscar has continued to make the first team squad, you do wonder if it's purely down to reputation and him being Brazilian - it certainly isn't based on consistent good form.

 

I would take Baker, Ake and RLC all over Oscar right now.

[JJP]

That was my argument even going back to the days of McEachran. When you think of some of the youngsters who haven't been given a fair crack and yet Oscar has continued to make the first team squad, you do wonder if it's purely down to reputation and him being Brazilian - it certainly isn't based on consistent good form.

 

I would take Baker, Ake and RLC all over Oscar right now.

 

Definitely. 

 

Im hoping to see all 3 fairly regularly next season too, and plenty of our current first team needs to be axed, with Oscar being the first name on the list

[VitesseCFC]

Lewis Baker: Top-5 moments at Vitesse 

https://fromarnhemwithlove.com/2016/04/03/lewis-baker-top-5-moments-at-vitesse/

Edited April 3, 2016 by VitesseCFC

[JJP]

Excellent player, I hope to see him part of our first team next season

[RIP Mourinho]

I remember being at the game when Lewis made his debut at Pride Park (now the iPro) back in early 2014 in what was a pretty comfortable win over Derby. 

 

Although many people, especially Mourinho, stated how talented he is and that he would make the England team one day he never made any more appearances for us that i can remember?

 

After a loan to Sheffield Wednesday and a highly successful loan to MK Dons he has now ended up at Vitesse (shock) and seems to be settling in very well from what i have heard. Attached is a few clips from him currently at Vitesse:

 

 

Do we think he will be able to make it at Chelsea and if so who would he displace? Surely he deserves a run in the team more than Oscar currently warrants?

[Scott]

[ShedEnder91]

In my opinion he has the vision and ability on the ball to potentially come in and play a similar role that Cesc might under Conte, that of playmaker in a midfield three.

 

HIs ability on both feet is unmatched in our first-team squad by anyone not named Eden Hazard, and even he couldn't consistently deliver set-pieces off his left-foot with such accuracy. He gets goals, he has an eye for a pass and he's always been something of a leader.

 

I'd love for him to get a shot but I don't see too much changing at Roman Abramovich's Chelsea unfortunately.

[RIP Mourinho]

In my opinion he has the vision and ability on the ball to potentially come in and play a similar role that Cesc might under Conte, that of playmaker in a midfield three.

 

HIs ability on both feet is unmatched in our first-team squad by anyone not named Eden Hazard, and even he couldn't consistently deliver set-pieces off his left-foot with such accuracy. He gets goals, he has an eye for a pass and he's always been something of a leader.

 

I'd love for him to get a shot but I don't see too much changing at Roman Abramovich's Chelsea unfortunately.

 

It is his weak foot ability that has always stood out for me. Can't think of many footballers worldwide with that kind of ability other than Santi Cazorla. 

[ShedEnder91]

It is his weak foot ability that has always stood out for me. Can't think of many footballers worldwide with that kind of ability other than Santi Cazorla. 

 

Me neither and it's not like they're iffy deliveries either. It might be worth getting him involved for those alone.

 

Plus he can hit a ball from distance too. That's one of the things we're sorely lacking at the moment. 

 

He's had a full season at Vitesse and next season he probably needs to make that step up, so hopefully the Traore pathway is one that he can tread too.

[Backbiter]

Really rate him. Would love him to come through at Chelsea.

[enigma]

never understood why he didn't feature more in the first team squad. I really like him as a player and he has always had tons of potential. I hope he gets a shot in the near future. he and palmer both have what we've been lacking, and that's goals from midfield. both of them have a fantastic eye for goals, especially distance shooting. 

Edited April 19, 2016 by enigma

[JJP]

Very lampard-esque player with his long shots. I hope he fits into our first team soon

[big blue]

Always thought he had more about him than rlc. He's got 50 senior games under his belt now, so I think he is ready to have a go in the 1st team.

It would nice if at least one of baker, rlc, chalobah, or Palmer could break into our midfield, but it seems unlikely.

[CFCholland]

Don't think he's ready to come back to us yet. He's in and out of the team at Vitesse and mainly impresses with his set pieces. I wouldn't mind us abandoning vitesse, Solanke isn't having a great time either. He gets absolutely no service from his teammates at all.

It's hard for them to build a team with all the loanees they constantly get from us. We should limit it to one or two I think. We're stealing their identity and it's not even benefiting us at the moment.

[PedroMendez]

I think Baker would make a very good player in a midfield 3. I think he has similar problems to Cesc in that he isn't physically fast or strong enough to dominate in a 2 man midfield and will leave the defence vulnerable if deployed as such.

However, if you have 2 players around him that are either physically imposing (e.g. Matic or RLC) or high energy box to box midfielders (e.g. Nainggollan or MvG/Pasalic) in any combination or just a very good defensive midfielder behind him (e.g Makelele, maybe Matic if you sort his role out) than he will flourish.

Really hope he is back with the squad next season as Cesc's back up and would love to see him get some meaningful minutes in a Chelsea shirt hopefully Roman either allows or forces youth to be deployed in the squad back up spots, as players like Mikel while useful aren't ever going to revolutionise the first team.       

[dkw]

Scored for England under 20s tonight and was comfortably the best player on the pitch.

[charierre]

Scored for England under 20s tonight and was comfortably the best player on the pitch.

bugger i forgot this was on BT.

[Zeta]

Much better prospect than RLC. He's great with both feet, can not afraid to take a shot on, really hope Conte gives him a decent look.

[Nibs]

Much better prospect than RLC. He's great with both feet, can not afraid to take a shot on, really hope Conte gives him a decent look.

 

Could be a tricky decision the club have to make in the future. I'll be honest, I have always thought Baker looked a better all-round player than RLC. I know different players progress (or not) at different stages but RLC has had all the hype and Baker has slipped under the radar, despit being a year older and perhaps more ready.

Would love both to feature in the squad for next season but that's pretty unlikely.

[CFCholland]

I think baker will get another loan, hopefully it'll go a bit better than the one he's just come back from.

I don't know the numbers but it feels like he was only a starter in about half the games in the Eredivisie this season. And from what I've seen the only impressive attributes he has are his freekicks and his ability to use both his feet.

[Orpington_Blue]

Him making it at Chelsea is less  likely that not. I think there is still hope for him but he is going to need a stellar season this time.

[PedroMendez]

I don't know the numbers but it feels like he was only a starter in about half the games in the Eredivisie this season. 

23 starts 8 sub appearances with 5 goals and 4 assists.  I would imagine a good proportion of those starts came before the managerial switch though seemed to be less in favour when the new guy came in. 

 

 

And from what I've seen the only impressive attributes he has are his freekicks and his ability to use both his feet.

I would say those are his stand out abilities along with his long shots of course but he is also very composed on the ball and seems to be able to pick out a pass. I concede that he is lacking physically but he would make a great understudy to Cesc, and if you have a couple of players to run along side him I think he can become a very good player.

Edited May 20, 2016 by PedroMendez

[TheChelseaBlues]

Baker vs. RLC is the quandry you face with young players. Go for skill and experience (though more limited in Baker's case) or physical prowess and raw talent. I find it hard to believe both players will be in the first team come next season

[PedroMendez]

Vitesse are trying to get Baker to stay another year explaining he needs another year to prove himself among men.

Whilst I agree with this sentiment for Solanke, Nathan and Brown, I think Baker needs to take a step up in quality, and I think he needs to be tested in the BPL.

It will be tough task to find him a suitable BPL loan though and I can't think of a current BPL team for which he would instantly fit straight into the side, yes for teams like Bournemouth, Sunderland and West Brom, Baker probably holds more quality than their current midfielder but neither of these teams play in a style or formation that that would suit Baker, so that would rule them out for me.

So that leaves either the promoted teams or to go down a similar route to Bamford and place him somewhere he isn't first choice and will have to fight his way into the squad.

 

Middlesbrough is probably the place most suited to him at the moment he would likely start and he would likely join up with Kalas, but there is also the option of a team like Palace or Swansea where whilst not a starter he would likely make a good understudy (to Cabaye or Britton/Sigurdsson) and would likely be given a decent amount of minutes. If he is to get a loan I think these three clubs are our best options.

However, for me he would make a great understudy to Cesc which is why I would have him in our squad next season. I don't think that risking another loan is necessary.

 

I also don't agree that you can't find a space in the squad for both RLC and Baker as both are very different players and would be providing cover for very different roles in the squad.  

Edited May 21, 2016 by PedroMendez

[enigma]

i think vitesse is a wrong club for him. talented players still need talented teammates around them, but vitesse doesn't have those. i think he needs to be around top class players to really flourish.