A lot can change in a week. On the eve of the Spain-USA game, Soccer Banter sat down with Tim Ream, the starting center-back for the New York Red Bulls and a promising-young defender for the US National team. At that time Tim was just hoping “to contribute anyway I can, if that means getting minutes in order to give rest to certain players, I’ll be happy to do it. “ Seven days later, he has made a much larger contribution, being the only field player to play all 90 minutes against Spain and Canada while showcasing his passing ability rarely seen from an American born center-back. A conversation with Tim Ream is similar to how he plays: simple, calm, articulate, and composed. Though he never played for a youth national team, he is a player that all Americans should be excited to watch and continue to develop in years to come. (Check back on Tuesday June 14 for answers from Tim Ream about life off the field.)
Soccer Banter: How would you describe your fist 18 months as a professional soccer player?
Tim Ream: It’s been a rollercoaster. Coming in, I didn’t expect to play as much as I did or to get a national team call-up after one season. It’s been a wild ride that I hope doesn’t end for awhile.
SB: Growing up in St. Louis, a hot-bed of soccer, was there a person that had a large influence on you within the game?
TR: I don’t know if there is one. Coming from St. Louis, there was a lot of guys ahead of me like: Chris Klein, Brian McBride (St. Louis University), Pat Noonan, Steve Ralston, and Brad Davis. I followed all of them pretty closely and I don’t know if they were influences per say, but they are local guys and as a player you wanted to join the ranks.
SB: A lot of journalists, analysts, and fans have been giving their views on you as a player, how would you describe yourself?
TR: Pretty simple. Calm, composed and technical. I try to think things through on the field and use my brain to read the game well. These are things I have been doing since high school and I have carried them over to my professional career.
SB: What has been your biggest adjustment from college to MLS and now international soccer?
Soccer Banter: How would you describe your fist 18 months as a professional soccer player?
Tim Ream: It’s been a rollercoaster. Coming in, I didn’t expect to play as much as I did or to get a national team call-up after one season. It’s been a wild ride that I hope doesn’t end for awhile.
SB: Growing up in St. Louis, a hot-bed of soccer, was there a person that had a large influence on you within the game?
TR: I don’t know if there is one. Coming from St. Louis, there was a lot of guys ahead of me like: Chris Klein, Brian McBride (St. Louis University), Pat Noonan, Steve Ralston, and Brad Davis. I followed all of them pretty closely and I don’t know if they were influences per say, but they are local guys and as a player you wanted to join the ranks.
SB: A lot of journalists, analysts, and fans have been giving their views on you as a player, how would you describe yourself?
TR: Pretty simple. Calm, composed and technical. I try to think things through on the field and use my brain to read the game well. These are things I have been doing since high school and I have carried them over to my professional career.
SB: What has been your biggest adjustment from college to MLS and now international soccer?
TR: Speed of play and the physical aspect are the biggest differences. It’s not a whole lot faster but it’s quick enough that it’s an adjustment. Guys are bigger, stronger so you have to be able to throw your weight around more than you did in college.
SB: I believe we are all still fans of the game, so how was the transition from watching Marquez and Henry on television to being their teammates 9 months later?
TR: At first it was kind of jaw dropping. You graduate, you’re a professional and you think that is the craziest thing that’s going to happen to you. Then two world-class players come walking thru the door. It was nerve-wracking at first but then over time you get to know those guys and they are just like everyone else. It’s pretty cool to say you watched them on TV and 9 months later you’re playing with them.
SB: What has their influence been on your career so far?
TR: Obviously playing next to Rafa this year, we have been playing together since preseason. He’s taught me a lot of things; position wise, being even more comfortable on the ball, and better decision making. He’s been a big influence this year. Thierry just with certain balls that I hadn’t played out of the back before or looked to play. With him he always wants the ball and now I’m looking for those passes.
SB: This is your fourth camp with the US team, but this one is different as the games actually mean something, have you noticed a change due to that?
TR: Training sessions have been pretty much the same, trying to get everyone on the same page. At the sessions, we have done tactical work, possession, and playing. It hasn’t really changed from any of the other camps, just the personnel has.
SB: I believe we are all still fans of the game, so how was the transition from watching Marquez and Henry on television to being their teammates 9 months later?
TR: At first it was kind of jaw dropping. You graduate, you’re a professional and you think that is the craziest thing that’s going to happen to you. Then two world-class players come walking thru the door. It was nerve-wracking at first but then over time you get to know those guys and they are just like everyone else. It’s pretty cool to say you watched them on TV and 9 months later you’re playing with them.
SB: What has their influence been on your career so far?
TR: Obviously playing next to Rafa this year, we have been playing together since preseason. He’s taught me a lot of things; position wise, being even more comfortable on the ball, and better decision making. He’s been a big influence this year. Thierry just with certain balls that I hadn’t played out of the back before or looked to play. With him he always wants the ball and now I’m looking for those passes.
SB: This is your fourth camp with the US team, but this one is different as the games actually mean something, have you noticed a change due to that?
TR: Training sessions have been pretty much the same, trying to get everyone on the same page. At the sessions, we have done tactical work, possession, and playing. It hasn’t really changed from any of the other camps, just the personnel has.
SB: What are your thoughts on Spain?
TR: We just have to go out and play. We know how good they are, they won the World Cup and it’s basically Barcelona’s team. We just have to go out and try to do our thing. Try to keep the ball, stay tight defensively. It’s the same thing we would do against any other team except they are really good. (Editors note: Watch video below for Ream's thoughts following the game)
SB: What are your personal goals for the Gold Cup?
TR: Just to contribute anyway that I can. If that means getting minutes to give someone else a rest or to push the guys in front of me to be better while learning from them at the same time. Anyway I can contribute to help the team win, that’s what I want to do.
SB: What are your aspirations to play overseas?
TR: Every player wants to go overseas and play in the top leagues in the world. If that happens in 1-year, 2-years, three years down the road, that’s not up to me. I can only control on the field stuff. I am happy in New York, if they sell me so be it, but I enjoy playing for the Red Bulls.
SB: Short career so far but who is the best player you have played with?
TR: Probably Thierry, an easy choice actually, he’s still got it even though he’s 33 years old, he seems to score at will.
SB: Best player you have played against?
TR: Though I wasn’t marking him, I would have to say Beckham. He was dropping dimes on us a few weeks ago when we played at LA from anywhere on the field. He was completing pinpoint passes.
SB: Can the Red Bulls win MLS cup this year?
TR: If we can get back to our winning ways and get rid of all the ties, we are a very good side. We have talent all over the field, international quality at just about every position. I think we can make a run at the Cup, we are good enough win MLS. We just just need to get everything sorted out like we had in the first 6 games of the years where we had a bunch of shutouts and were scoring goals.
TR: We just have to go out and play. We know how good they are, they won the World Cup and it’s basically Barcelona’s team. We just have to go out and try to do our thing. Try to keep the ball, stay tight defensively. It’s the same thing we would do against any other team except they are really good. (Editors note: Watch video below for Ream's thoughts following the game)
SB: What are your personal goals for the Gold Cup?
TR: Just to contribute anyway that I can. If that means getting minutes to give someone else a rest or to push the guys in front of me to be better while learning from them at the same time. Anyway I can contribute to help the team win, that’s what I want to do.
SB: What are your aspirations to play overseas?
TR: Every player wants to go overseas and play in the top leagues in the world. If that happens in 1-year, 2-years, three years down the road, that’s not up to me. I can only control on the field stuff. I am happy in New York, if they sell me so be it, but I enjoy playing for the Red Bulls.
SB: Short career so far but who is the best player you have played with?
TR: Probably Thierry, an easy choice actually, he’s still got it even though he’s 33 years old, he seems to score at will.
SB: Best player you have played against?
TR: Though I wasn’t marking him, I would have to say Beckham. He was dropping dimes on us a few weeks ago when we played at LA from anywhere on the field. He was completing pinpoint passes.
SB: Can the Red Bulls win MLS cup this year?
TR: If we can get back to our winning ways and get rid of all the ties, we are a very good side. We have talent all over the field, international quality at just about every position. I think we can make a run at the Cup, we are good enough win MLS. We just just need to get everything sorted out like we had in the first 6 games of the years where we had a bunch of shutouts and were scoring goals.
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