Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press

Defender Tim Ream left the Red Bulls of Major League Soccer after the 2011 season, destined for Bolton Wanderers of England’s Premier League. After some trips to the cathedrals of the English game, Bolton foundered, was relegated, and now Ream and Wanderers find themselves struggling one rung down in the League Championship.

Life as a professional in England has had its ups and downs for Ream, a player selected by the Red Bulls out of St. Louis University, which makes him one of only a few players in Europe with a university degree. The Goal blog’s Jack Bell spoke with Ream late last week, as he was preparing for his return to Bolton’s starting lineup in a relatively new position — defensive midfielder.

Q.

So, how are you?

A.

I’m good other than not having played the last couple of weeks. I’ve settled in to the life and just trying to go about this League Championship. It’s a little bit different than what the Premier League is about.

Q.

What has Bolton’s relegation meant for you in terms of contract and otherwise?

A.

Nothing really changed in terms of my contract, other than certain bonuses were taken out. The main part, the meat of the contract stays the same and it has another two years to run after the end of this season. Other than that it’s just been an adjustment. It’s a much different league than the Premier League; more physical, faster, the ball is in the air much more than what you find in the Premier League. That’s something that’s been more difficult to adjust to than when I came over last January.

Q.

Have you been playing your old position from the Red Bulls, center back?

A.

I had been playing center back, which was what I was playing when I came over in January. Then really up until this past two weeks when the new manager [Dougie Freedman] came in after last game in Middlesbrough he approached me and asked if I’ve ever played in the defensive midfield spot. The last two weeks that’s where I’ve been training.

I actually played a reserve game this past Monday night [Nov. 19] and did pretty well. They seem pleased with the way I played and things I did and what I brought to the game. Hopefully I showed well. I think they like a few things, my distribution and being more into the game. Second, is my knowing what it’s like to be at a center back spot, it’s almost having a third center back screening in front. I think it helps since I’m one of more fit guys on the team. I get to kind of run around and break things up.

Q.

With the club’s relegation and contract issues, was there ever any talk of you going elsewhere?

A.

No. They haven’t approached me and I don’t really have a desire to move. At this point I need games. I can’t go anywhere without getting games and I don’t think a loan was really an option for them. I’ve been in the team ever since the new manager came in [replacing Owen Coyle]. I haven’t been looking elsewhere and I haven’t been approached.

Q.

You left M.L.S. and the United States to go play in the Premier League. How are you dealing with Bolton being relegated after last season?

A.

It’s a tough pill to swallow especially from my point of view. You make a pretty big move to a different country, at least it’s similar to the States. You’re moving across the ocean playing in arguably the best league in the world and when you get relegated you kind of second-guess yourself a bit. For my wife and me, when it happened we were frustrated and unsure what would come next. The big reason for move was the E.P.L. It’s been difficult on everybody. There was a little bit of a hangover coming in beginning of this season, and it showed in the results we were getting [before games the weekend of Dec. 1, Bolton was in 17th place]. It’s tough to adjust to, and watching Premier League games you’re thinking about what could be.

Q.

How did that change affect you?

A.

When I first came over last January, the first two games I wasn’t in the [first] 18. Then I was starting every game, thrust into it, from the beginning of February to May. Then we come in this year and it was a bigger adjustment, especially to me. I know I struggled early on and didn’t have very good performances so Owen went with guys who were tested and could get the job done. That’s the way things go.

It was difficult. I had never experienced anything like that before — being left off the team. It was very frustrating. You question whether you made the right decision. At the end of day everyone wants to play. It’s a matter of putting your head down and getting back to basics. Just playing the game and working hard. It’s not just me. But I think a lot of Americans are willing to do the work. I’ve gotten back to that. Under the new manager I think I’ve done well and have been in the 18, back on the doorstep to getting games.

Q.

Where were you and what was your reaction when Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba nearly died on the field last season?

A.

I was not on the field at the time. I was, however, on the bench and saw him fall and everything after that. It was one of the scariest things I have ever witnessed and not something anyone can ever prepare you for. Everything about that day still feels like a dream. I remember the following few days and how everyone around the team just walked around with blank faces not knowing what to say or what to do.

It has been nothing short of a miracle what he has gone through and the fact that he is still with us speaks volumes of the fight that he put up. It has been great having him back chatting and joking around with the guys. But more importantly it’s great that he has pulled through and can now watch his son grow up and be a part of his life.

Q.

Do you look back over the last year and wonder if you made the right decision to make the move?

A.

When you’re not playing, not even in first 18 and sitting with all the young boys who are 18, 19 and 20, you kind of look around and maybe question it then. But for the most part it’s about overcoming that, just working hard. We all make decisions for certain reasons, for my career and my wife we felt this was the best decision — and still do. Again, it’s a matter of working hard, getting games and going from there.

Q.

As a guy from outside England, where do you go for advice? Have you spoken much about what’s going on with a guy like Stuart Holden?

A.

Unfortunately Stu hasn’t been around that much until now, doing all his rehab work in Delaware. Now that he’s back it’s easier. I can turn to him and just have a conversation without saying out loud that I’m struggling. I do get a better feeling. Then again, just hanging out with guys on the team outside of the field and the locker room puts things in perspective. You realize that as much as it’s a job, you can step away and enjoy time without killing yourself about what’s going on on the field.

Q.

What were some of your impressions early on of the game and your new surroundings?

A.

I want to say my first game was an F.A. Cup match at Millwall. Most people know Millwill from the “Green Street Hooligans” and they call their stadium the Den for a reason. That was my very first game, then we go into my first Premier League game playing at Chelsea. What a stadium they have. Their team is struggling now, but at the time, with [Didier] Drogba, [John] Terry and David Luiz … all these guys, you kind of have to step back before whistle, look around and take it all in.

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Two weekends later I’m playing at Man City, another big game and stadium and club. You really just have to step back. I thought about where I’ve come from and what I’ve come through. I’m one of only a few [players in England] who have gone to university and made the jump. It’s something I’ve thought about and something I’ll always remember as being special.

Q.

What was the thing that surprised you most when you landed?

A.

The way I was accepted and brought into the team. There really wasn’t anybody who had a huge ego or who wasn’t willing to sit down in the locker room and chat, about nothing and everything. The club really feels like it’s a family, all pulling for each other. That helped me settle in from the get-go.

Q.

So many people who follow the game in the U.S. would be envious of you, or anybody, who gets to go to a place where soccer is the sport. Where it’s always on TV and in the papers. Do you share those feelings?

A.

It’s really twofold.

There’s so much press on it, the game and teams, you can’t turn on the radio without hearing something about this guy or certain teams. Of course, it’s unheard of in the States. There’s a game on every day, every night, multiple channels. The media that covers the sport is just mindboggling to me.

At same time there’s a lot of stuff written that may or may not be true. It’s not only the papers, now it’s on the Internet. It’s one of those things you just kind of have to put it out of your mind, if you can. I used to be one of those guys who went online and tried to read everything about teams and guys. But it just becomes so much, too much. You become so immersed in it that there’s no time for anything else. For me, I came to a point where I said enough’s enough. I got rid of Twitter and all the social media stuff. It’s not worth the time you spend on it.

Q.

But the Internet’s the only way to follow your old team, the Red Bulls. Do you?

A.

That’s one thing that I do still look up every day. I go on the Web site and read scores and news, what’s going on over there. Obviously New York was the first part of [my] pro career, so I still feel close to it. From what I’ve read, it looks like they’re kind of changing their direction a little bit.

As good as guys like Thierry [Henry] and Rafa [Marquez] are, you can’t leave out the American guys, who are always willing to put in the hard work. Look at Dax [McCarty], who was good last year, this year he was rock solid. Look at Kenny [Cooper] scoring all the goals. Sure, he had a lot of good players around him to feed him, but you still have to put it in the back of net. Two of my favorites are Connor Lade, coming in and almost doing what I did in 2010, and I can’t go without mentioning [Brandon] Barklage. I played with him at St. Louis U. and remember traveling together to Chicago when we played for a P.D.L. team. I always said just given a chance people would like the way he plays.

Q.

Do you miss it?

A.

Absolutely. It’s funny, my wife and I were just talking about it the other day. We went down to London and both said how we wished we were going into New York, out for a Saturday night with all those guys. I miss the people more than anything, the friendships. Hanging out with guys like Dax and the whole crew. We really did make our home in Hoboken for two years. I still wish we were there now and then, but we all have to move on at some point. It was a good ride.

Q.

What comes next for you?

A.

Obviously, the first step is getting games consistently. After that you can’t really look too far ahead. You want more national team games and to get called into camps and be part of that group being with 15, 16, 20 guys you have something in common with. Just being consistent and playing well.

Q.

So where do you now stand with the national team? It’s been a while since you were called in. Do you speak with Jurgen Klinsmann?

A.

Actually, we spoke about the last two camps. At the beginning of August I was on the verge of being called in, but it was the beginning of season and Jurgen didn’t want to get in the way. Then this last camp, I was going to go then Coyle got fired and [Jurgen] didn’t want to take me away of some solid training with the new manager. I think I’m right there. If I start to get games and games in a row, hopefully I’ll be right in the mix.

Q.

Last question … you played for Coyle, now for a new manager and of course with the Red Bulls … how do all the styles differ, if they do?

A.

The new manager is good, definitely different than Owen. He’s got a style he likes to play and structure and a shape, something the team really needed drilled into us. I think we’ve been responding well. There’s not much different from New York. We have hard days on Monday and Tuesday, off Wednesday, taper down and do more tactical shape later in the week. He’s not as into tactics as Hans [Backe, the former Red Bulls coach] was. Yeah, we still work on them, but he’s more into the intense work rates than tactics.