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Tim Ream is relishing Wanderers’ return to the big stage tomorrow when they travel to pit their wits against Premier League leaders Chelsea in the third round of the Capital One Cup.
The fixture rekindles some fond memories for the American defender whose top-flight debut for the Whites came on the same Stamford Bridge ground shortly after his arrival in January 2012.
That game ended in a 3-0 defeat for Wanderers and after their fall from grace in recent seasons, the current Whites side is not expected to fare much better tomorrow even if, as expected, Blues manager Jose Mourinho fields some of his fringe players from the start.
But last season’s double player of the year says the underdog tag could suit a Bolton team who head to west London looking for some respite from their Championship woes.
Ream said: “We don’t have anything to lose.
“It is a cup game and you go in with the mindset to give it all you got just like we do in the league.
“There aren’t three points on the line but it is a chance to pit yourself against one of the best teams in the world and that’s what we are going to do.
“Whether they rotate or not, is not something we can focus on.
“Their second team or third team is going to be just as committed and just as talented so we just to have to focus on ourselves.”
Ream has started every game in league and cup this season and hopes that run will continue in a game he says is special for every member of the squad vying for contention.
With Kevin McNaughton back fit and available and Dean Moxey also returning in recent weeks, Ream, Matt Mills and Dorian Dervite will be challenging for two central defensive slots.
And the US international is determined that he will not be one to miss out when the choice is made to fill one of those berths.
He added: “Everyone wants to play in the game.
“Being able to play against a team like Chelsea is something everyone wants to do and everyone inside their stomach wants to do.
“We will see come Wednesday what happens but I don’t want to give up my spot and I will possibly have a few conversations with the gaffer.
“I am sure we will all be fighting him tooth and nail to stay in there.
“It is special for me because Chelsea was the second game I played in once I moved over; Millwall and Man City being the other two either side.
“It brings semi-decent memories.”
“Playing in big games is something you strive to do and you just never know what might happen if you can pull off a result.”
The odds are stacked heavily against a Wanderers side with just one league win from eight matches and having seen both their Capital One Cup ties against lower-league opposition not decided until extra-time.
Ream, like his manager, believes the performances have not been reflected by the results.
However, the honest 26-year-old concedes a failure to take chances and avoid lapses at the back is their current downfall.
Looking back at the weekend loss at Wolves as an example, Ream said: “It is frustrating more than anything.
“You come away from home and you play fairly well for the most part and create chances.
“But at the end of the day you don’t put any away and they put one of two solid chances away and they get the three points.
“That seems to be the way it is going right now and we can’t seem to shake it.
“You can say ‘unlucky this, unlucky that’ as many times as you want but you create your own luck.
“That’s kind of clichéd but in this game it is the truth.
“If you don’t take your chances and make mistakes at the back you are going to keep using that word unlucky.”
Source
The fixture rekindles some fond memories for the American defender whose top-flight debut for the Whites came on the same Stamford Bridge ground shortly after his arrival in January 2012.
That game ended in a 3-0 defeat for Wanderers and after their fall from grace in recent seasons, the current Whites side is not expected to fare much better tomorrow even if, as expected, Blues manager Jose Mourinho fields some of his fringe players from the start.
But last season’s double player of the year says the underdog tag could suit a Bolton team who head to west London looking for some respite from their Championship woes.
Ream said: “We don’t have anything to lose.
“It is a cup game and you go in with the mindset to give it all you got just like we do in the league.
“There aren’t three points on the line but it is a chance to pit yourself against one of the best teams in the world and that’s what we are going to do.
“Whether they rotate or not, is not something we can focus on.
“Their second team or third team is going to be just as committed and just as talented so we just to have to focus on ourselves.”
Ream has started every game in league and cup this season and hopes that run will continue in a game he says is special for every member of the squad vying for contention.
With Kevin McNaughton back fit and available and Dean Moxey also returning in recent weeks, Ream, Matt Mills and Dorian Dervite will be challenging for two central defensive slots.
And the US international is determined that he will not be one to miss out when the choice is made to fill one of those berths.
He added: “Everyone wants to play in the game.
“Being able to play against a team like Chelsea is something everyone wants to do and everyone inside their stomach wants to do.
“We will see come Wednesday what happens but I don’t want to give up my spot and I will possibly have a few conversations with the gaffer.
“I am sure we will all be fighting him tooth and nail to stay in there.
“It is special for me because Chelsea was the second game I played in once I moved over; Millwall and Man City being the other two either side.
“It brings semi-decent memories.”
“Playing in big games is something you strive to do and you just never know what might happen if you can pull off a result.”
The odds are stacked heavily against a Wanderers side with just one league win from eight matches and having seen both their Capital One Cup ties against lower-league opposition not decided until extra-time.
Ream, like his manager, believes the performances have not been reflected by the results.
However, the honest 26-year-old concedes a failure to take chances and avoid lapses at the back is their current downfall.
Looking back at the weekend loss at Wolves as an example, Ream said: “It is frustrating more than anything.
“You come away from home and you play fairly well for the most part and create chances.
“But at the end of the day you don’t put any away and they put one of two solid chances away and they get the three points.
“That seems to be the way it is going right now and we can’t seem to shake it.
“You can say ‘unlucky this, unlucky that’ as many times as you want but you create your own luck.
“That’s kind of clichéd but in this game it is the truth.
“If you don’t take your chances and make mistakes at the back you are going to keep using that word unlucky.”
Source
