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Tim Ream says "It's going to be a while" before young talent stays in MLS
The 24-year-old center back says that MLS needs to raise its salary cap in order to keep young talented players from leaving.
Jan 27, 2012 2:37:00 PM
By Alex Labidou
Getty
With Tim Ream's move to English Premiership side Bolton another young American talent departs from Major League Soccer.
While many see the move as a positive sign for the North American league that one of its talents is going to the best league in the world, it is concerning that MLS continues to have issues in retaining its young talent. The league has no issues in attracting global names like David Beckham or Thierry Henry but has had difficulty keeping its promising players from going to teams - even if it's Swedish second-division side Hammarby IF.
Ream assessed that the main concern facing developing talents in MLS is the low-salaried contracts that continue to be offered for anyone who isn't a Designated Player or veteran starter.
"The biggest thing to keep us here is to give us competitive salaries with teams from overseas," Ream said. "It's hard to do with the way the league is currently set up."
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Ream made $60,000 a year playing for the New York Red Bulls during his two year stint with the club. In the time he spent with the club, he was always quick to point out that he would have no qualms about staying in the league and even retiring as a Red Bull. The center back enjoyed living in the New York area but knew that if he re-signed with the club, in a few years he could be traded if he was "too expensive."
With a salary cap at just under $2.8 million, teams often prioritize retaining their well-known players, often allowing younger players to slip through the cracks. Ream pointed to the fact that there are plenty of teams in MLS that could compete without such a restricting cap.
"The leagues overseas have big money owners backing them," said Ream. "Obviously New York and some of the teams around the league like LA have big money and can give big salaries."
He added, "Until that happens [better salaries], a lot of guys are going to try to make that jump. They see that that's best for them. "
Without being able to keep young players or solid role players, the standard of play in MLS is often uneven. There are moments of brilliance like Landon Donovan's goal that was assisted by Robbie Keane and Beckham winning the 2011 MLS Cup, but there are equally times where the game is hard to watch like the 71 minutes that proceeded the play. Ream believes that the MLS is progressing with its talent and salaries but warned not expect any drastic changes soon.
"We're getting there, it's just a matter of time," said Ream. "It's not going to be one or two years, it's going to be a while."
While many see the move as a positive sign for the North American league that one of its talents is going to the best league in the world, it is concerning that MLS continues to have issues in retaining its young talent. The league has no issues in attracting global names like David Beckham or Thierry Henry but has had difficulty keeping its promising players from going to teams - even if it's Swedish second-division side Hammarby IF.
Ream assessed that the main concern facing developing talents in MLS is the low-salaried contracts that continue to be offered for anyone who isn't a Designated Player or veteran starter.
"The biggest thing to keep us here is to give us competitive salaries with teams from overseas," Ream said. "It's hard to do with the way the league is currently set up."
Follow ALEX LABIDOU on
Ream made $60,000 a year playing for the New York Red Bulls during his two year stint with the club. In the time he spent with the club, he was always quick to point out that he would have no qualms about staying in the league and even retiring as a Red Bull. The center back enjoyed living in the New York area but knew that if he re-signed with the club, in a few years he could be traded if he was "too expensive."
With a salary cap at just under $2.8 million, teams often prioritize retaining their well-known players, often allowing younger players to slip through the cracks. Ream pointed to the fact that there are plenty of teams in MLS that could compete without such a restricting cap.
"The leagues overseas have big money owners backing them," said Ream. "Obviously New York and some of the teams around the league like LA have big money and can give big salaries."
He added, "Until that happens [better salaries], a lot of guys are going to try to make that jump. They see that that's best for them. "
Without being able to keep young players or solid role players, the standard of play in MLS is often uneven. There are moments of brilliance like Landon Donovan's goal that was assisted by Robbie Keane and Beckham winning the 2011 MLS Cup, but there are equally times where the game is hard to watch like the 71 minutes that proceeded the play. Ream believes that the MLS is progressing with its talent and salaries but warned not expect any drastic changes soon.
"We're getting there, it's just a matter of time," said Ream. "It's not going to be one or two years, it's going to be a while."
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