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TIM Ream’s international claims have been more hotly discussed on this side of the Atlantic than over in the States this last few years.
Ignored at the last moment at last summer’s World Cup and then used sparingly – much to the annoyance of club boss Neil Lennon – ever since, the defender has felt a little like piggy in the middle as he tried to nail down a regular spot under Jurgen Klinsmann.
But after years of trying, the 27-year-old, player of the year at the Macron for the last two seasons, seems to finally be getting somewhere.
Despite being overlooked in two impressive victories against Germany and the Netherlands, Ream has made the 23-man squad for this summer’s Gold Cup – North and Central America’s version of the European Championships.
The US are looking to make their sixth straight final, with a place at next year’s Confederations Cup also at stake.
From Wanderers’ perspective there is a certain amount of trepidation about one of the squad’s most important players doing his pre-season thousands of miles away in a tournament still relatively unheard of in this neck of the woods.
Perhaps the experience of Stuart Holden in the last Gold Cup has soured the idea. The Whites’ fan favourite headed to the 2014 competition looking to get himself into top shape while playing for his country but ended up breaking down in the cruellest fashion with another long-term injury just a few minutes into the final.
Wanderers certainly need the rock-steady defender back in top shape when the Championship season kicks-off on August 8 against Derby County.
Yet some suggest the fact he is not playing in the Premier League, Bundesliga or even MLS could be affecting the former New York Red Bulls man, and is the chief reason Klinsmann has overlooked him in the past.
Doug McIntyre, a soccer writer for broadcaster ESPN gave us an insight into how the second tier of English football is regarded in the States.
“I think it's looked at a bit like MLS: a physical league that's difficult to play in despite being well behind the Prem in terms of quality,” he told The Bolton News. “I'm not sure how much the relative lack of exposure hurts Tim, though. I know US coaches have scouted him heavily this year, both in person and on video.”
On missing out on the World Cup and the last Gold Cup, McIntyre reckons Ream was simply behind the likes of John Brooks and Matt Besler in the pecking order.
“I just think others were ahead of him at the time. But the consistency Tim has shown at Bolton the last two seasons has certainly boosted his stock.”
Ream’s reliability at Wanderers has been all the more impressive as he played consistently out of position at full-back.
McIntyre believes he may have to wait for his chance at the Gold Cup but that Klinsmann will use him in central defence, rather than out wide.
“Ream's versatility helps him, but since Klinsmann prefers quick full-backs who get up and down the flank – which isn't Ream's game – I think he's in the middle,” he said.
“As for playing time, expect Ream start the tournament on the bench as cover for Bundesliga up-and-comer John Brooks.”
Wanderers fans who don’t mind burning the midnight oil will be able to watch how the US, Ream and potential loan target Deandre Yedlin go on, with BT Sport holding the broadcasting rights to the competition.
They kick off the group stages against Honduras a week on Wednesday, and while the standard of competition is sometimes scoffed at over in Europe, McIntyre assures us there is pressure on the US to win outright.
“It’s hugely important,” he said. “It's our Euro, basically, and it's no cakewalk: Costa Rica lost a World Cup quarter-final on penalties last summer. Mexico and the US both advanced in Brazil, and teams like Honduras, Jamaica and Panama have quality, experience and discipline.
“There's a lot of pressure on the US, too, as a win would qualify them for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13355444.Stateside_view__Why_it_could_be_time_for_Tim_at_next_month_s_Gold_Cup/
Ignored at the last moment at last summer’s World Cup and then used sparingly – much to the annoyance of club boss Neil Lennon – ever since, the defender has felt a little like piggy in the middle as he tried to nail down a regular spot under Jurgen Klinsmann.
But after years of trying, the 27-year-old, player of the year at the Macron for the last two seasons, seems to finally be getting somewhere.
Despite being overlooked in two impressive victories against Germany and the Netherlands, Ream has made the 23-man squad for this summer’s Gold Cup – North and Central America’s version of the European Championships.
The US are looking to make their sixth straight final, with a place at next year’s Confederations Cup also at stake.
From Wanderers’ perspective there is a certain amount of trepidation about one of the squad’s most important players doing his pre-season thousands of miles away in a tournament still relatively unheard of in this neck of the woods.
Perhaps the experience of Stuart Holden in the last Gold Cup has soured the idea. The Whites’ fan favourite headed to the 2014 competition looking to get himself into top shape while playing for his country but ended up breaking down in the cruellest fashion with another long-term injury just a few minutes into the final.
Wanderers certainly need the rock-steady defender back in top shape when the Championship season kicks-off on August 8 against Derby County.
Yet some suggest the fact he is not playing in the Premier League, Bundesliga or even MLS could be affecting the former New York Red Bulls man, and is the chief reason Klinsmann has overlooked him in the past.
Doug McIntyre, a soccer writer for broadcaster ESPN gave us an insight into how the second tier of English football is regarded in the States.
“I think it's looked at a bit like MLS: a physical league that's difficult to play in despite being well behind the Prem in terms of quality,” he told The Bolton News. “I'm not sure how much the relative lack of exposure hurts Tim, though. I know US coaches have scouted him heavily this year, both in person and on video.”
On missing out on the World Cup and the last Gold Cup, McIntyre reckons Ream was simply behind the likes of John Brooks and Matt Besler in the pecking order.
“I just think others were ahead of him at the time. But the consistency Tim has shown at Bolton the last two seasons has certainly boosted his stock.”
Ream’s reliability at Wanderers has been all the more impressive as he played consistently out of position at full-back.
McIntyre believes he may have to wait for his chance at the Gold Cup but that Klinsmann will use him in central defence, rather than out wide.
“Ream's versatility helps him, but since Klinsmann prefers quick full-backs who get up and down the flank – which isn't Ream's game – I think he's in the middle,” he said.
“As for playing time, expect Ream start the tournament on the bench as cover for Bundesliga up-and-comer John Brooks.”
Wanderers fans who don’t mind burning the midnight oil will be able to watch how the US, Ream and potential loan target Deandre Yedlin go on, with BT Sport holding the broadcasting rights to the competition.
They kick off the group stages against Honduras a week on Wednesday, and while the standard of competition is sometimes scoffed at over in Europe, McIntyre assures us there is pressure on the US to win outright.
“It’s hugely important,” he said. “It's our Euro, basically, and it's no cakewalk: Costa Rica lost a World Cup quarter-final on penalties last summer. Mexico and the US both advanced in Brazil, and teams like Honduras, Jamaica and Panama have quality, experience and discipline.
“There's a lot of pressure on the US, too, as a win would qualify them for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13355444.Stateside_view__Why_it_could_be_time_for_Tim_at_next_month_s_Gold_Cup/
