Tim Ream credits Marco Silva’s arrival at Craven Cottage with reigniting his Fulham career and has revealed how the Portuguese head coach has given the Whites the belief that they can prosper in the Premier League.
The veteran centre back feared his time on the banks of the Thames was coming to an end under Scott Parker as Fulham went down with a whimper, but now feels he is playing some of the best football of his life at the age of 34. The St. Louis-native has been an ever present, despite the summer signing of Issa Diop for £15m, as the pre-season relegation favourites sit seventh in the table ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Everton.
Ream told the Metro:
“I was 33 when we were relegated and you think, “Is this it? Are you coming towards the end?” I thought it very well could be. But now I’m feeling rejuvenated and a few weeks into last season I thought, “We can definitely do this again (win promotion)” and I wanted to be part of that. Doubts always creep in after a long, hard, unsuccessful, unfulfilling season like the one before that but it’s nothing a good couple of weeks away couldn’t sort.”
The former Bolton defender admits that Silva’s arrival at Motspur Park came at just the right time.
“For me it was the best thing and perfect timing. From the first day he walked in it’s been fun. He’s brought joy and fun back to my game and also has that hard work ethic too. Everybody wants that feeling from their boss, right? That feeling that your boss believes in you and has confidence in you no matter your age or performances. To have that completely changes your mindset and outlook – and that doesn’t change at 35.”
Ream is adamant that this Fulham side are different from the teams that struggled to adjust to the top flight in previous years.
“We have a group now who have learned from those experiences. We’ve learnt from what didn’t work and have a confidence and belief in ourselves that can’t be understated. We have trust in the guys in the changing room and you can see that on a daily basis. You respect everyone but you fear no one – that’s how I’d put it. We know what our squad is capable of.
We know a good start will, and has, put us in a very strong position and we want to keep that up. Everyone picks who they think [will get relegated] – that’s the world of sport – but it’s refreshing not to be in that conversation among ourselves and not have those lingering doubts about who we are or why we’re here.
Even where results have not gone the way we wanted, there’s not really any panic. No overly negative feelings. We’ve always come in positive to training the next day. A loss isn’t bringing the team down.”
Personal Encouragement and bringing the best out of each individual – These are major Leadership Skills … Silva and Training Staff clearly have it . So many players have been “reborn “ – Mitro , Kebano, Ream , Willian the list goes on . The team love him . Silva is the best Fulham signing of the Century… The importance of management and leadership is key to a club’s success . Players are the raw materials , the coach is the artisan . Come on Silva’s Black and White Army !
Well said PEZ. Yes players come and go and some of their form is beyond a manager’s control but there are simply too many Fulham players that have stepped up this season for it not to be Silva. His positivity and desire to attack every game is key for me. Parker gave off a “we’ll be lucky to get anything today” vibe in his team set up and interviews. Silva has fed belief into the boys to play football and as Ream says they respond to that. They must be working hard in training because the physical condition of the boys looks very competitive too. If we can get to 20 points before the World Cup break that would be an amazing achievement. Prem manager of the season so far. COYW
Confidence is good and told you have freedom to play and not to be Afraid to try something a bit different a certain Mr Parker almost nearly destroyed Mitros confidence and shipped Kebano off to Middlesbrough Ream is in his Twilight years and is playing like a man possessed Marco has brought Confidence,Passion, Attitude,Freedom,
To this Club and to this team long may it continue, he wants to build something here hard to beat at Home which are good foundations
And we believe in him too!! Let’s bring that spirit on to the game tomorrow!!! COYW!!!
We had another manager with the same qualities once – a certain Jean Tigana who, if his relationship with Al-Fayed hadn’t acrimonious, might have prospered in the topflight.
Don’t forget Steve D that we had to bring in Chris Coleman as Tigana’s assistant to fire up the dressing room during the season. I admired Tigana immensely but things were beginning to turn sour quite long before he left. And not just because of his row with Al-Fayed. Signings that didn’t work.