Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard (c); Sturridge, Drogba, Mata. Subs: Turnbull, Bertrand, Mikel, Meireles, Malouda, Kalou, Torres. Bolton: Bogdan, Steinsson, Wheater, Ream, Ricketts, Muamba, Reo-Coker, Pratley, Miyaichi, Tuncay, Ngog. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Eagles, Knight, Klasnic, Boyata, Sordell Premier League debut for Ream. Go Tim. Game is on Fox Soccer Channel at 10:00 AM Eastern time.
Re: Ream: Chelsea vs. Bolton (2/26) away at Chelsea- a tough one. Bolton will be defending most of the game.
Re: Ream: Chelsea vs. Bolton (2/26) good for ream, this is a big moment for him and surely will be tested early and often.
Wow, how messed up was the formation FSC just showed for Bolton? Tuncay at CM, Miyachi at striker, Reo-Coker and Pratley on the wings? I don't think so.
This is going to be a long day for Ream. He got turned around trying to defend a quick break and did okay to recover and try to make a block - he looked shaky but his other moments have been decent. Couple of clears, couple of passes, etc.
On Drogba's run, Ream did the best he could with a no-win situation trying to cover two guys, ending up leaving Sturridge with a bit of a shot window. Ream's passing out of the back has been good so har.
Yeah - that was a good play - looked like Drogba was going to pull the ball back and beat Ream, but he dragged a leg and was able to clear.
Tough situation, it looks like Chelsea split the defense and play Drogba through. But it's none other than Ivanovic that takes the ball off Drogba's feet, a massive miscommunication. Ream helped push Ivanovic into Drogba actually.
considering the circumstances, i would say that thus far, ream is having a brilliant BPL debut. Even though they have had the lions share of possession, Ream and Wheater have kept Chelsea's strikeforce in their pockets essentially all match. Can't even tell that this is Ream's first game in the BPL
I've been impressed so far - he looks pretty composed, making quick decisions on distribution and not trying to hit raking passes when nobody's there, and above all holding his positioning well even when there's space in front of him and players breaking on different angles. Great recovery tackle on Drogba early and then again late (slow-motion replay showed that he actually blocked Drogba's shot in addition to crowding Ivanovic toward him). He still looks like he might not be able to jump with the Drogba/Cahill/Ivanovic crowd, and we'll see what happens if Chelsea score and he loses one of Muamba/Reo-Coker to track the Chelsea MF runners, they've done a lot of defensive work. Overall, though, he must be pleased with his EPL debut half.
Really good first 45 for Ream. AVB might not have his team playing like vintage Chelsea, but it's still at Stamford Bridge with a star studded lineup. The back 4 is staying organized for the most part and Ream has had a lot of clearances and blocks.