Ream Bashers

[Hugh Gentry]

I haven't read any wholesale criticism of Ream, simply people pointing out the obvious, he is not good enough to be a starter at Center Back in the Premier League, we cannot afford the risk.

I'm happy for Scott Parker to be the judge of that.

I am happy for me to maintain my opinion as you can yours, mine is he simply isn't good enough, Let's see if Scott Parkers is any different once the transfer window is closed.

[Statto]

I appreciate the responses and further discussion - my main point was how we too quickly criticise most of our players even after success. We can assume that SP will want to play out from the back and wondering with budget options what will be best options for LCB. Tim Ream in my opinion has been pivotal in our 'playing out from the back' style before and from Parker managerial appointment. Tim's defending within our defensive organisation has pinpointed areas for improvement (whether this is individual or group defence is open to further debate), however is Kongolo a better option to replace Tim? What is Kongolo's or AN Other replacement playing out from the back capabilities versus the defensive strengths/requirements.  The value of a top centre back is substantial whilst Chris Smalling would be a good acquisition he would cost a considerable transfer fee plus significant wages. Who else is available better than Tim at a reasonable fee and overall value? We saw last season on occasions that after bringing in MLM at a cost and he's nowhere near being able to play a playing out from the back role.

Why are we limited to "budget options"?

We've got £100m burning a hole in our pocket and Tim is the weakest link

Although FWIW I reckon £4-5m buys a better player than Ream

With all due respect he's league one standard nowadays, I wouldn't even want him in the first XI if we hadn't gone up

[The Rational Fan]

We need to bring in one premier league centre back better than Hector, so Hector is the number two CB. Tim Ream can fight Hector and Mawson for the remaining spot in next seasons starting XI. Even if he makes the starting XI, we need to bring in a long term replacement for Ream as he has 1 year left on his contract and doubt he will want to renew after next year as he probably best to finish his career in the USA.

[Woolly Mammoth]

We need to bring in one premier league centre back better than Hector, so Hector is the number two CB. Tim Ream can fight Hector and Mawson for the remaining spot in next seasons starting XI. Even if he makes the starting XI, we need to bring in a long term replacement for Ream as he has 1 year left on his contract and doubt he will want to renew after next year as he probably best to finish his career in the USA.

That seems reasonable, and yes I go along with your suggestion that the new CB should be better that anyone we already have with Leadership qualities, not an easy task but he has to be out there somewhere.

[valdeingruo]

I do believe he plays better with Hector next to him, Im curious to see how he does, I would love to get another CB in but am also more happy to give Ream another go.

[Cookie6262]

I don't believe it's a case of bashing Ream, most if not all Fulham fans agree he has been and still is a great servant to Fulham having played for years, winning two promotions, player of the year and many plaudits, Most of us are happy to keep him as squad depth but it doesn't take away from the fact that despite playing very well post lock down the first half of the season he wasn't great which followed an awful season last year in the premiership, he isn't getting younger and appears to have lost a half yard of pace which he didn't have to start with. Most fans are happy to have him around and he is a solid back up but if he is our regular starter we are likely in for another disappointing season.

[filham]

I'm less concerned by Ream, more concerned about what we do if he (for whatever reason) can't play.

We have two good options at CB (Tim/Hec), but we need more. Alfie hasn't been able to keep fitness and doesn't seem best suited to Scott's style. Kongolo is gone.

Rate Tim or not, we need better cover at CB, and it just seems sensible to improve on what we have via an upgrade.

Agree, but we need to be careful and not rush in and buy just anyone, we have had disasters in the recent past. Best start with Tim rather than bring in another Stearman, Sigurdsson or Mawson to name but three.

[SuffolkWhite]

I don't believe it's a case of bashing Ream, most if not all Fulham fans agree he has been and still is a great servant to Fulham having played for years, winning two promotions, player of the year and many plaudits, Most of us are happy to keep him as squad depth but it doesn't take away from the fact that despite playing very well post lock down the first half of the season he wasn't great which followed an awful season last year in the premiership, he isn't getting younger and appears to have lost a half yard of pace which he didn't have to start with. Most fans are happy to have him around and he is a solid back up but if he is our regular starter we are likely in for another disappointing season.

I think this is fair comment. This is a forum for comment, some on here will be negative and some positive.

Get behind the team as it will be a tough season.

[Deuce]

I dont mind people disagreeing with the critique against Tim, but this is becoming something else. We all just whats best for the club, not whats best for individual players. This reasoning is applied on all players regardless.

[Carborundum]

When we went up two seasons ago the club made the mistake of changing far too much - this was somewhat forced on them by a lack of foresight and planning.  I don't think we will do that again, but an equally naive error would be to change little or nothing on heading to a markedly harder league.  As the weaker of two starting centre halves it's no surprise that plenty of seasoned commentators on here see him as a candidate for an upgrade.   Nothing personal, no questioning his character at all - he's made admirable use of his talents - but that's just how football is.  Darwinian doesn't quite capture it, it's more like a game of snakes and ladders.  We had better use the ladder of upgrading our centre back while we can because the season will throw up some snakes that we slither down.

[Tabby]

I think it was pretty telling that after Kongolo was signed on loan in the winter window he stepped in ahead of Ream as soon as he was available. You'd be mad if you think they aren't looking to improve that position after promotion.

[RoyTund]

He is isn't good enough for the premier league. Wasn't last time, isn't this. For a long time he seemed to be immune from criticism as a lot of his mistakes led to goals a phase or so later.  His passing has always been ponderous and does not move the ball forward quick enough. He isn't strong enough in the air and certainly isn't quick enough. Having said that I thought his best games of the season were the playoff second leg and the final but I don't judge from the latest one or two games. I judge from Barnsley away 2016 onwards (and I was in the stadium btw) where there have been too many mistakes. There will continue to be. And that was in the championship. Would love to be wrong but 4 plus years is enough to see the limit.

The above is not a personal attack on Tim ream but a statement of my views on his footballing level on a Fulham football forum. It also does not mean I hate Tim ream. It does also not mean I am not a 'supporter' of Fulham as inferred by the OP.  The less than subtle suggestion that the OP views count more because they have a season ticket and live in wandsworth over others here.  I have a season ticket and still do after I moved to New York (I am English btw) in 2018 so does this mean my dedication is more than yours And my views count more? Those inferences you use to try and place your opinion over others is classic on a football forum but also classically wrong.

However, back to the beef, just getting behind the players on a forum (are you suggesting we can't say when we think a player needs to be replaced or something?!?) isn't going to make him good enough. It's not like we are booing him in the stadium.

He's what 30+ now and has been a servant of the club for over 4 seasons but we need to stay up.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Glad we all agree then, we definitely need an upgrade at LCB as a first choice starting position. Not shutting the door on Tim Ream at all, just hopefully upgrading a position that needs it. I am sure he will figure in the team through the season but probably not as a starter.

[Twig]

I don't see many supporters "bashing Ream", far from it. He is a respected and much appreciated member of our senior squad.  There are a few who allege he was never good enough for the Prem, which is a judgement I wouldn't hold with. However I do think that, sadly, his 2nd shot at Prem level football has certainly come too late this time around.  Last time there may have been some mitigating circumstances; he was possibly less well suited to Joka's style than to Parkerball and he certainly had the misfortune to be a part of a dysfunctional team in which it was very hard to do well.  But even then I think he was half a yard short of pace and pace is almost always an essential to be a successful CB in the Premier League.

[S.F.Sorrow]

Ream is nowhere near good enough for the Premier League. He wasn't good enough 2 years ago and he isn't a better player now. Of course there were many other problems with our last PL squad but that doesn't mean our current squad will dominate games in the PL and take some pressure off our defence. That's just not going to happen.

Personally I think Ream has only been good for us in two relatively short periods: Our unbeaten run and post lock down. Apart from that he has been mostly poor IMO. I also personally think his sudden improvement was more about the entire team performing better (he didn't have to do as much actual defending) but he made some horrible mistakes even then.

We won't dominate games in the PL. Starting Ream will be a disaster. He is too slow, not strong enough in the air, makes too many mistakes when trying to hold onto the ball for too long and his great passing stats are misleading. Most of those passes are just short sideways passes to the other CB. When he finally makes the forward pass it's often too late. His teammates are under pressure and we lose the ball in the next move. Any half-decent CB will get great passing stats for us in the Championship. Even Kalas had exceptional passing stats when playing for us but most of those passes were to Ream of course...

LCB is out weakest position by far and should be TKs number one priority. We also desperately need a RB and a DM but LCB is the most critical. Unless we strengthen this position I personally think we will be relegated. We need to strengthen this position ASAP. We have several "must win" games against other relegation candidates in September/October. Signing a new LCB on deadline day will be far too late.

Sorry, I just don't think Ream is good enough for the PL. In fact, I would have wanted a new LCB even if we weren't promoted.

[toshes mate]

I personally have nothing but praise for Tim Ream.  He has played in a Fulham side that at times has produced stunning football of a kind rarely seen Craven Cottage and he is certainly much more reliable than many other players I have watched.

[filham]

Perhaps we should look at Tim's stats, starting with how may games he played last season and then making a list of who played more.

In the Championship

Right then lets first take a look at Cav.,Knock and Reid's goalscoring record in the championship, does that suggest they are going to be good enough for the premier league.
Remember after Hector started playing  our big problem last season was in attack not defense.

[ALG01]

I don't post very often because I read some posts and think there are posters supposedly Fulham supporters or possibly other club fans trying to stir the pot. I've read so many negative comments about how Tim Ream has performed over the past season. I see it so differently about how he initiates our attacks from defence as the manager and our style of play dictates. I understand that a mistake or two has materialised but I believe his calmness and passing qualities has been enormous in our gaining promotion. If anyone wishes to rewatch our playoff finals at Wembley on both occasions Tim was outstanding; nullify opposition attackers but calmness in distribution. There is obviously areas for improvement but I loathe the number of messages criticising Tim and other players after such a successful season. I'm not from across the pond but a season ticket holder living in Wandsworth and reading some of the posts on this site which picks on specific players really deflates me. Lets support our players rather than look to criticize them at every opportunity.
Just to add I'd like to comment how lucky we are to have the owners that we do; a new Riverside stand soon to open, continued investment in the playing squad and open discussion/communication with the club supporters.

I think ream gets way to much critical attention and is a far better player than people realise. I do happen to think he may be a half a yard to slow for the prem but we would not let us down if the other three in the vback four and our midfield perform.

i am less inclined to the love in with the owners. they obviously are not afraid of investing and TK clearly loves the club but he remains an amateur in a position that needs a professional. he is sort of doing better but he is way off the required standard. if we keep seri and anguissa that will be a bad thing. the khans simply make too many unforced errors with the squad.

[fulhamben]

I don't post very often because I read some posts and think there are posters supposedly Fulham supporters or possibly other club fans trying to stir the pot. I've read so many negative comments about how Tim Ream has performed over the past season. I see it so differently about how he initiates our attacks from defence as the manager and our style of play dictates. I understand that a mistake or two has materialised but I believe his calmness and passing qualities has been enormous in our gaining promotion. If anyone wishes to rewatch our playoff finals at Wembley on both occasions Tim was outstanding; nullify opposition attackers but calmness in distribution. There is obviously areas for improvement but I loathe the number of messages criticising Tim and other players after such a successful season. I'm not from across the pond but a season ticket holder living in Wandsworth and reading some of the posts on this site which picks on specific players really deflates me. Lets support our players rather than look to criticize them at every opportunity.
Just to add I'd like to comment how lucky we are to have the owners that we do; a new Riverside stand soon to open, continued investment in the playing squad and open discussion/communication with the club supporters.

I think ream gets way to much critical attention and is a far better player than people realise. I do happen to think he may be a half a yard to slow for the prem but we would not let us down if the other three in the vback four and our midfield perform.

i am less inclined to the love in with the owners. they obviously are not afraid of investing and TK clearly loves the club but he remains an amateur in a position that needs a professional. he is sort of doing better but he is way off the required standard. if we keep seri and anguissa that will be a bad thing. the khans simply make too many unforced errors with the squad.

in what world would keeping Anguissa be a bad thing. I'd bet my house on him being our best player this season. The bloke is class

[ALG01]

I don't post very often because I read some posts and think there are posters supposedly Fulham supporters or possibly other club fans trying to stir the pot. I've read so many negative comments about how Tim Ream has performed over the past season. I see it so differently about how he initiates our attacks from defence as the manager and our style of play dictates. I understand that a mistake or two has materialised but I believe his calmness and passing qualities has been enormous in our gaining promotion. If anyone wishes to rewatch our playoff finals at Wembley on both occasions Tim was outstanding; nullify opposition attackers but calmness in distribution. There is obviously areas for improvement but I loathe the number of messages criticising Tim and other players after such a successful season. I'm not from across the pond but a season ticket holder living in Wandsworth and reading some of the posts on this site which picks on specific players really deflates me. Lets support our players rather than look to criticize them at every opportunity.
Just to add I'd like to comment how lucky we are to have the owners that we do; a new Riverside stand soon to open, continued investment in the playing squad and open discussion/communication with the club supporters.

I think ream gets way to much critical attention and is a far better player than people realise. I do happen to think he may be a half a yard to slow for the prem but we would not let us down if the other three in the vback four and our midfield perform.

i am less inclined to the love in with the owners. they obviously are not afraid of investing and TK clearly loves the club but he remains an amateur in a position that needs a professional. he is sort of doing better but he is way off the required standard. if we keep seri and anguissa that will be a bad thing. the khans simply make too many unforced errors with the squad.

in what world would keeping Anguissa be a bad thing. I'd bet my house on him being our best player this season. The bloke is class

i look forward to receipt of the keys of your house.
anguissa was lazy, that will not change. in that world where you need all yourt players to put in maximum effort all the time and never give up on chading lost causes... that world.
anguissa is class indeed, third class.