Why Pep Guardiola loves Tim Ream?

At an age when most players would be considering retirement, the American defender has taken his game to a new level. It may be hard to believe, but when the U.S. men's national team announced its World Cup squad last November, Tim Ream's inclusion came as a surprise. Having been out of the picture for over a year, the 35-year-old center-back was suddenly back in contention for the tournament in Qatar.

Despite being largely excluded during qualifying, Ream went on to become an integral part of the USMNT's impressive World Cup campaign and was arguably the team's best player. As the 2022-23 European seasons progress, he continues to build on his World Cup momentum and has cemented his place among the Premier League's elite with consistently strong performances. Perhaps Guardiola's praise of him was not unwarranted after all.

At the World Cup

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Ream shared that if he were in an alternate universe, he would have been the one to decide whether or not to go to Qatar, rather than it being a decision made for him. When he first received the call from Gregg Berhalter, he was skeptical and hesitant to commit to going. He wasn't mentally prepared at the time and didn't feel confident in his ability to help the team.

Tim proved himself as a crucial member of the USMNT at the World Cup

After sleeping on it, Ream ultimately made the right decision and proved himself as a crucial member of the USMNT at the World Cup. Despite it likely being his only World Cup appearance, Ream performed flawlessly in all four of the team's matches and helped lead the US to the knockout round, achieving a long-awaited dream.

The road back

Ream has been a familiar face at Craven Cottage for several years now, having joined Fulham in 2015 after a successful stint of three and a half seasons with Bolton. Over the years, he has played more than 250 league matches for the club.

However, one criticism that has been looming over Ream is his failure to perform at the Premier League level. Although he spent two seasons with Fulham in the top flight, making a total of 33 appearances, both times the team was relegated to the Championship immediately after reaching the Premier League.

Ream has been a familiar face at Craven Cottage for several years now

Ream's chances of proving himself in the Premier League seemed to be over after making just seven appearances in Fulham's last season in the top flight in 2020-21. But, this season has presented a new opportunity for him to show his potential at that level.

Fulham's iron man

At 35 years old, Ream has surprised many by performing exceptionally well in the Premier League this season. He has missed only two minutes of play for Fulham and is one of only two players, alongside Andreas Perreira, to have started every game. However, it's not just his presence on the field that's impressive, but also the consistently high level at which he's been playing.

Ream has surprised many by performing exceptionally well in the Premier League this season

Ream currently ranks 11th in the Premier League for headed clearances, and ninth for both blocks and overall clearances, placing him among the league's top defenders. Furthermore, he regularly leads Fulham in touches and passes during individual games, indicating that he has become a composed and skilled ball-playing center-back in recent years.

Team success

Fulham's success this season is not solely due to Ream's individual performances, but rather the cohesive efforts of the entire team. Currently, they sit in seventh place in the Premier League and are preparing to face Arsenal in a crucial match that could impact the title race.

Fulham's success this season is not solely due to Ream's individual performances

However, Fulham is not merely playing the role of a spoiler; they are also vying for their chance to compete in European soccer. With only 34 goals conceded in 26 games, Fulham's defensive record is comparable to heavyweights Tottenham and Manchester United. The team is currently fighting for a spot in the Europa or Conference League, and while a top-four finish seems unlikely, it is not completely out of the question as they are six points behind the leaders.

Fulham's last foray into European competition was in 2011-12 when Clint Dempsey was their star player, but under the guidance of Marco Silva, the team has realistic aspirations of returning to continental competition next season as the current campaign enters its final stretch.

USMNT's Player of the Season?

It's difficult to argue that anyone other than Ream has been the top performer for the US Men's National Team in Europe this season, considering both individual and team success. While Tyler Adams has played well for Leeds, the struggles of his team make it hard to make a strong case for him. Brenden Aaronson started strongly but has since declined, Weston McKennie is still new to the Premier League, and Antonee Robinson is in contention but Ream has truly shone for Fulham.

Ream has been the top performer for the US Men's National Team in Europe this season

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Malik Tillman have been good, but the Scottish top flight cannot be compared to the English. Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna have been held back by injuries, while Tim Weah was in and out of Lille's lineup before moving to left-back.

Ricardo Pepi, who was not on the World Cup roster, is a close contender with double-digit goals for FC Groningen and could score more as they seek to stay in the Eredivisie. However, to be frank, none of Ream's young teammates currently play at the same level as the defender, who has reached a gear unmatched by any of them.

The future

Despite being in the final years of his career, Ream still has a lot to offer, as evidenced by his current form. His contract with Fulham runs until the 2023-24 season, and it's unlikely that they would want to part ways with him. Ream himself is eager to play in a UEFA competition, which he has not yet had the chance to do.

Although he has been linked with a move to his hometown club St. Louis SC in the MLS, Ream could easily continue playing in Europe for another year if he chooses to do so.

Ream still has a lot to offer, as evidenced by his current form

As for the national team, it will be difficult for Anthony Hudson and whoever succeeds him to overlook Ream's skills. The Gold Cup is taking place this summer, followed by the Copa America in 2024, so there are plenty of opportunities for Ream to prove his worth.

Whether or not Ream will stay in Europe for that long remains to be seen, but time will tell.

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