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In a year when the MLS rookie class was arguably one of the strongest in league history, no rookie enjoyed as impressive a first professional season as Tim Ream.
The New York Red Bulls central defender didn't just impress enough to earn a starting role from day one, he established himself as the best defender on a Red Bulls team that wound up finishing first in the Eastern Conference. His form all season helped him earn SBI's MLS Rookie of the Year honors.
Ream started all 30 matches for the Red Bulls this season, making him the only rookie to start every match. His skill on the ball and ability to read the game made him one of the toughest defenders in the league this year. His distribution skills earned him consideration from U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley, who has identified Ream as one of the most promising young players in MLS.
Ream beat out fellow rookie of the year favorites Danny Mwanga and Andy Najar, earning five of six first-place votes on SBI ballots (including my first-place vote). Mwanga finished second in the voting after posting seven goals and four assists as a Philadelphia Union rookie. Najar finishing third in the voting.
What did you think of Ream's season? Did you consider him the league's best rookie? Who did your vote go for?
Share your thoughts below.
Najar being so young contributes a lot to the league with all his skill. It is what MLS needs to attract new fans. Ream made a big contribution on a good team. MLS is fortunate to have the two.
SBI, unless you are using Gattuso in his prime as a standard, Najar was not a liability defensively. He plays both ends of the field, has a great motor, and is better than an average MLS midfielder on defense. If you want to talk about midfielders who are defensive liability, you can talk about Fred, Schelotto, Freddy Montero, or Beckham, but Najar does not belong in that conversation. And the last time I checked Schelotto won the MVP and Montero was a contender for the MVP this year despite their poor defensive work rate.
This vote has nothing to do with how good a player is GOING to be. The only thing that matters is their rookie year. Ream had the best rookie year. Done and done.
Najar, ream, mawanga or however you spell it, in that order
On this years merits Ream definately deserves it. However to give credit where it is due, Najar is shaping up to be the better overall soccer player, and I am much more excited to see where his career takes him.
It would have been nice to see Tim Ream and Babajide Ogunbiyi
Omar doesn’t have the speed to keep up with the big boys on the international level. Much like Gooch. He is good in the air and strong but beatable with speed and footwork. Ream is the full package. Watching him take down Keane during the Spurs game was great.
He’s been a pro since 2007. Not exactly a rookie.
If I had to bet on either Omar (yes I know he’s not a rookie and I do think he’s a very solid defender) or Ream being a top defender in five years, I’d put my money on Ream.
I think Tim Ream is one of the top 5 defender in MLS , not just Rookie defender . So I think he is the ROY by far.
Ju-Ju-Juninho
Too all Tim Ream loves- SAY THANK YOU TO SEATTLE FOR BREAKING IKE OPARA’S FOOT! I’m sure you all know very well that Ike would be the rightful winner with 3 goals in only 11 appearances + all the games he missed due to school conflicts. He’s the leading-scoring defender of this year! His height and strength made it nearly impossible for any striker to get past him. Look at all the shutouts San Jose posted in the months of march, April, and may!
DC haters out in full force i see
Tchani!
Harder question next time Ives.
Tough choice, but i would have chosen Ream.
… and that is very much a generalization. Look no farther than Del Piero, Giggs. Although your point is true, it means nothing in specific regards to Najar.
Yeah I think Najar would’ve started in the New York Red Bulls side. I don’t see how that is much of a stretch. Lindpere in the middle with marquez with Najar out wide. Or even him playing behind Angel, when Henry is out.
But I do agree with you Ives that there isn’t really arguing against Ream for rookie of the year.
(SBI-Regarding Najar starting for NY, don’t be sure. For all of Najar’s ability going forward, he is a liability defensively at this point in his career. That didn’t matter much on an awful D.C. team, but it would have led to him struggling for playing time early on if he had been on New York. Yes, he would have gotten playing time, but he was allowed to have his growing pains on a team that had no hope. He wouldn’t have had the same luxury on a playoff team trying to win a conference title.
Again, this isn’t to say Najar won’t be great. He could wind up being one of the best attacking players the league has ever produced, but if we’re talking THIS year and what he did, Tim Ream simply had a better season. That might be tough for some who choose flash over substance to realize, but it’s the truth.)
…and great defenders play until their late thirties while attackers are usually done by thier early thirties…
Ives – great point.
at midseason it was all mwanga, but his injury in the last third of the year really cut into his production. ream played the better season for sure.
What, no love for David Estrada?! What a crap pick.
Najar enters the league as a 17 year old and Ream is like 23… dubious for Ream to say the least
(SBI-What does their age have to do with the rookie of the year credentials? Nothing actually.)
Najar definately should have won. He was the best player on his team and is by far the class of the rookie corp. If he played in NY or LA it would not even be up for debate.
(SBI-What does being the best player on the worst team in the league mean exactly? Here’s a question, who would Najar have started ahead of on New York? Lindpere? Richards? I think he could be a star, and is the most exciting rookie in the class, but Ream simply had a better season.)
There is no doubt Ream had the advantage of a good team, but he took that advantage and owned it. He played in so many important games and was excellent the vast majority of the time. It inspires hope to see a US center back with that skill on the ball. In the spirit of the season, I’m Ben G. and I approve of this vote.
It will be interesting to see how the season’s many awards play out. For these two, Ream and Hartman by a relative landslide as far as I’m concerned. Najar is incredible, and really it’s tough to discount anyone on either list but I’ll only bat an eye if Ream and Hartman don’t win. Who knows though, there are clearly some really stupid people among those gifted vote/nomination rights. I hate to beat a dead horse, but what exactly has Henry done to warrant a spot in the final three of Newcomer of the Year, other than sign? I’d imagine he’ll probably win Newcomer of the year, while Hartman probably won’t win GK of the year due to the, albeit accidental actions of the newcomer of the year..is that irony? I’ll check with Alanis.
Ream is a US lock, Mwanga tilts to USA, and Najar would be a huge snag but unlikely because of the huge wait for citizenship.
Those three would help all three lines of the MNT, and really Najar is an amazing player, with our loaded midfield there are few who are young and could break into it, but he is special.
I love MLS, because you either have players over seas who are young and you hear positive things about but no PT, and then they never pan out. (See Ferrari, Garza, Arguez, Zimmerman, Whitbread, etc)
If Alex Nimo or Peri Merovic was overseas at some Bundesliga club people would be listing him in every potential 2014 list there is. MLS is the reality.
However Mix Diskerrud and (lesser known but just as exciting) Tony Taylor are getting playing time over there.
Let’s hope he keeps progressing
Hey I’m even hard too, Ream has put in some excellent performances for the Red Bulls, I hope he translates into a solid international player in the future.
Well he’s not the only one. Bob Bradley likes him too.
Man Ives, you really have it hard for Ream.
Kid has a lot of potential to grow further.
Marge.
Homer.
Tim Ream is a remarkably mature defender for his age, but Najar looks like he’s ready to step on the field in any league today. He’s a potential genius with the ball at his feet, tireless, confident, fearless… can’t see any reason not to give the award to him.
Booooooooooooo! Danny Mwanga all the way!
Yeah Ream!
No Brainer.
Ream was the logical choice for ROY. Started every game for a team who is now expected to make a deep run in the playoffs. Hopefully he continues to improve and take the opportunity to learn from the players around him (Rafa, Henry, etc…) to become a STRONG USMNT player. Looking forward to seeing him over the next 4 years in WC qualifying.
as a philly native its hard for me to say this, but ream was the best. just pumped to see what all 3 of these guys can do in the future. (hopefully for the U.S.)
I agree with this choice. The impact he had in solidifying the defense for a team that had been shaky in the back for a few seasons was immediate and he has only gotten stronger as the season progressed. He is confident on the ball and is quick to recover from the mistakes he makes.
welp, there’s your answer. Ream is rookie on a glamourous and skilled club, and performs day in and day out like a veteran.
@Scott – I saw a snoozer of a match a month ago between the Rapids and DC United, and the most eye-catching player on the pitch was Najar. I was amazed. I’m not saying he should have won the ROY, I’m just saying he’s got much skill.
Congrats!
Tony Tchani is an important rookie as well. I expect him to contribute more and more and to be standout player soon.
Ream has been tremendous this season, playing every minute of every MLS match and anchoring the back line.
He unquestionably had the greatest impact of a great rookie class.
I’m pumped for this kids future. Hopefully he stays for another year or two before he ends up in Europe.
I think najar should have got it. yes, he was on a terrible team, but i think he was DC’s only bright spot. I think the numbers he would have put would have been better if he were elsewhere on a different team.
Mwanga and Najar were strong but Ream was so polished and important to the Red Bulls. I agree with this choice.