I don't think Ream had a great year, but it was his first year in the Premiership, hopefully for Bolton not his last. I hope he stays with Bolton for a year in the nPower champ'ship as that will be a great challenge and tons of games against very good talent. Personally I think he plays a bit too much zonal marking as opposed to getting on a body, but I don't know what he is instructed to do. We'll see how he develops next year, but he will play a good sized role in the summer for the USNT.
this... Championship will be great for him to be honest, and for Stu to get healthy. But ream, over and over, gets caught marking space and not his man. Though the crouch PK wasn't his fault, per se, crouch ran right past a standing ream. it happens too often for my liking. regardless, great professional move for him, glad Coyle gave him a chance, and hope he continues to grow.
I get what you are saying, but if Ream moves with Crouch, there is a clear shot at goal by the guy with the ball. Ream, in this case marking the space is taking away a shot on goal. This was a case of too many bodies in the same spot.
I think the pace, physicality, and direct style of the Championship is a good test for Ream - this is the type of game most of us think he's ill-suited for, so if he can do well there he will become a more complete player. No problem with Ream doing a year's time in the second tier if that's what it comes to. Same with Holden. If he's too good for the level, he'll get bought in January - otherwise it's a good league for him to find his feet again.
Cleensheet I screwed up big time with Miller....I really thought he had not been capped! But still not back down on my TR opinion. I mean talk about getting chances and doors opening up for you...it has to be earned. Did you forget his past Redbull seasons...yikes!
Also Miller is not a very good defender. He's constantly under fire from Red Bull fans. Tim Ream had to bail him out on MULTIPLE occassions cause he'd go wandering up the field and never return. And Marquez playing like $hit and Solli working as a converted right back with no sense of the role didn't really help either. It's very telling that in Ream's first year with the club playing on a backline with Petke and Albright (and Lindpere playing center mid) they were one of the best defenses in the league. Enter Marquez, Solli, a GK controversy, and a rash of injuries, and Lindpere being moved out wide in his second year and the defense fell apart. But yeah...that must have been Ream's fault.
KOKO, I understand you are a Ream fan and I agree with your NYRB defense break down. However, when I examined Ream, I was looking at his individual play for the Bulls and during the GoldCup, USMNT games and Red Bull games...there I saw a player consistently beaten, with poor decision making skills "based on the hype" and chances he kept getting. That is what I was saying. As for Miller, I appreciated his quickness, ball skills, decision making. However, I do agree that he makes many runs up the wing and does not cover his defensive role. But I believe that is based on the assignment given to him by his manger with the Bulls.
I have always said that Ream's weakness is his consistency, or call it whatever you want: Not being dialed in for 90 minutes/too casual with the ball/error prone/etc. However, he does not consistently get beaten, nor does he have poor decision making skills. He's simply prone to a big gaffe every now and then. If you take that away he is an INCREDIBLE defender. Now will those gaffe problems he has change? Who knows. I think he made one or two big mistakes in the EPL this season, but the difference is that he wasn't with the Red Bulls so his teammates covered for him...cause you know...it's a team game. He was very deserving of the chances he got. He is one of the better CB prospects we have. Miller? He isn't quick, his ball skills aren't that great, his decision making is terrible and his positional awareness is even worse. He's terrible in the air, offers nothing in attack, and gets dribbled around like a parking cone.
Who all are Bolton losing next year? If they don't lose too many players + they get a healthy stu back then they should bounce right back up...
They have a lot of players out of contract. The chairman indicated that they will be looking at their youth system to replace them. They do get back Holden and Lee, but it could be a bumpy ride. YA thread on Ream covers a lot of this.
What is it you would look for, if you were manager, in a CD? I would look for consistency because that's the job. Having said that, I agree. Tim will get there.
Tim is a very viable prospect. but he needs to imrpove his defending. (which means he has to play lots of games...which if he stays healthy and plays a lot for bolton in the championship next season he will) CBs tend to get better with age. 26 in 2014 right? perfect. 2 years of experience. i am hoping he starts the gold cup for us in 2013. lets all hope.
I hope we will have a better CB who is playing consistently at a higher level than Ream. The Championship is barely a step above MLS. Some of the teams in the championship are so bad, but then again, some are decent. It's a very lopsided league at times.
Good to know. That should disqualify Stu Holden from starting over players that start in Serie A, MFL, Bundesliga and EPL.
bahahahaahaha. or the fact that the top half of the championship far exceeds the MLS. No doubt. I would argue the top half of the MLS could be mid table in the championship maybe.
And I mean COULD be. Maybe. Most likely closer to relegation. the squads are larger. the season is LONG. they play lots and lots of games. and it is FAST and DIRECT. they dont fool around. You dont get to take 5 seconds to turn on the ball and slowly move it forward like MLS games can do. someone will be on you very very quickly.
Yes, I took the "maybe" in to account when I agreed. I think most of MLS is top League One, lower Championship quality. I'm also ok with that considering the salaries.
The teams in the Championship also don't play in Dallas in August. The pace and physicality of the Championship would be physically impossible in many MLS cities for much of the season. That's at least as much a question of climate as of talent.
