Tim Ream keeps tumbling further off the soccer map

Tim Ream, who once seemed destined to assume status among U.S. center backs, keeps dropping further and further from the national team picture.

Earlier today I posted something at PST where Jurgen Klinsmann ticked off a list of center backs “knocking on” Carlos Bocanegra’s door. The names mentioned were Geoff Cameron, Clarence Goodson, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler and Maurice Edu. (Edu wasn’t actually mentioned in the article, but Klinsmann did talk about Edu – that part just hit the editing room floor.)

No mention of Ream, the Bolton man who can’t find a starting role for a club sitting uncomfortably close to the drop zone in England’s second tier.

Not only that, but the former New York Red Bull isn’t even playing along the back line anymore; the man that brought him to Bolton (Owen Coyle) has since been dismissed, and new man Dougie Freedman has Ream kicking the tires on a defensive midfield role.

Still, Ream says he’s not looking to make a move, according to a Goal.com piece from Alex Labidou, who spoke to Ream by phone this week.

Right now, I’ve been training at defensive mid at Bolton and I think that’s where they see me helping out the club. So it just depends on where I’m getting consistent minutes. You see a guy like Mo [Maurice] Edu, who is a defensive center midfielder, transitioned to sometimes playing a center back role with the national team. So I think it all hinges on me getting games no matter where it’s at.”

Ream may be committed to playing out his contract for the club that paid MLS and New York $2.75 million just a year ago. Still, he doesn’t sound like someone 100 percent in love with the situation, suggesting that not everyone is as desperate as he is to turn things around at the Reebok.

That could get interesting.