Is he a fullback? A central defender? A midfielder? Does it matter? The 28-year-old Massachusetts native tends to earn raves wherever he performs. Laura Greene went on a listening tour. Here is what she heard.
BY
Laura Greene
Posted
March 05, 2014
10:02 AM
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OVER THE COURSE of 18 months, 69 video games, and two managers, Geoff Cameron has develop into a mainstay for Premier League facet Stoke Metropolis.
As one in all few American gamers presently enjoying repeatedly in a high European league, the 28-year-old seems to have slipped seamlessly into English life since making his swap from Houston Dynamo in August 2012.
Cameron has missed only one top-flight sport all season. He has scored in opposition to Arsenal. And he has proved instrumental in victories in opposition to Chelsea, Manchester United, and the aforementioned Gunners. He’s presently ranked No. 6 within the ASN 100.
Life appears to be like rosy in Staffordshire for the Massachusetts native, whose versatility has seen him play in quite a lot of roles for the Potters. Nevertheless, Cameron’s capacity to play as a fullback, center-back, and defensive midfielder will not be at all times as advantageous as it could appear, and has really seen him are available in for equal measures of criticism and acclaim.
Right here’s what persons are saying about Stoke’s No. 20.
Again in August 2012, Cameron made his debut for the facet in opposition to Arsenal, holding Arsene Wenger’s group to a 0-0 draw whereas enjoying in a defensive midfield place.
Wanting ahead to formally enjoying for Stoke Metropolis!! Actually excited for this new journey! Im now thought-about a footballer!!
— Geoff Cameron (@GeoffCameron) August 8, 2012
With a Man of the Match award, Cameron’s first foray into Premier League soccer couldn’t have gone been higher. He was effectively acquired, as seen on Chief Delilah’s Stoke Metropolis Conclusions:
“I like the potential he showed as a classy midfield spoiler. He always looked to use the ball intelligently and—unlike Wilson Palacios up to now—seemed more au fait with what was expected of a typical Pulis ‘cage dweller’ in terms of positioning. No player on the pitch made more tackles, interceptions, and blocks than our new American signing. That is a very positive sign.”
For Stoke’s subsequent two video games, Cameron remained at center-half, recording two extra factors in respectable attracts with Wigan Athletic and Manchester Metropolis, earlier than being moved right into a fullback place the place he would largely stay for the remainder of the season.
It was, he admitted, a place during which he had little expertise, telling The Stoke Sentinel on October 4:
“I am not used to enjoying proper again, however over the past couple of weeks I’ve been watching movies and attempting to be taught.
“The timing is different from playing center-back or center midfield because there are different angles and also different ways you have to step up or drop off. That’s what I have been working on over the last few weeks and I think I am getting more comfortable.”
On October 16, 2012, U.S. males’s nationwide group coach Jurgen Klinsmann informed Brian Sciaretta, “We’re very, more than happy with Cameron’s improvement. He got here in for the primary time in January camp and I used to be impressed. He informed me: ‘I want to go to Europe. I want to make it.’ I informed him what it takes to get there and what to do. He’s very hungry.
“I think he still has a lot of room to improve. Playing in the Premier League day in and day out will form him. It gives him another level.”
Cameron appeared in all however three top-flight fixtures in 2012-13 and Stoke completed the season in thirteenth place. Nevertheless, the facet gained simply two of its ultimate 12 video games and would quickly to lose its supervisor of seven years, Tony Pulis, as he and the membership parted methods by “mutual consent.”
In the course of the offseason, Cameron contemplated what sort of a task he would have below his new supervisor—former Blackburn Rovers, Manchester Metropolis, Fulham, and Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Hughes.
“I was either playing right back or defensive center midfield last season,” Cameron informed The Stoke Sentinel on July 13, 2013. “I used to be by no means given the chance to play center-back as a result of I assume Tony Pulis did not see me there, or he did not wish to play me there, despite the fact that he might see me in that place with the nationwide group, which I assumed I performed rather well.
“But he had his guys that he trusted and chose, so he never really gave me the opportunity at center-back. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens when I go back to Stoke.”
Underneath Hughes, Cameron started the 2013-14 season exactly the place the final one had left off, at proper again.
Coincidentally, it was once more in opposition to Arsenal that Cameron shone for his facet, within the fifth sport of the present marketing campaign. Stoke might have misplaced 3-1 on the Emirates Stadium, however the American defender acquired on the rating sheet within the twenty sixth minute.
Geoff Cameron on his first Premier League purpose.
Geoff Cameron is a wonderful footballer. Too fast to catch, too intelligent to outwit, too robust to be harmed by customary subject munitions.
— Iain Macintosh (@iainmacintosh) September 22, 2013
The next day, Stoke followers celebrated their American goal-scorer.
As Robo51 commented on the Oatcake Fanzine messageboard, “He was without doubt a knight in shining armour on Sunday. I thought he was superb.”
Miles Offside added: “Geoff had a great game yesterday. Really getting to grips with that RB spot.”
Yeswilko typed: “Cameron has been at the heart of a lot of good attacking moves this season, he’s settled well and getting better with each game. Gwaaarn Geoff lad.”
Whereas showing in each minute of each sport (apart from Stoke’s scoreless October 19 fixture in opposition to West Bromwich Albion) within the Premier League, Cameron was additionally showing for the US males’s nationwide group in friendlies in opposition to Bosnia Herzegovina, Austria, and Scotland. Towards Austria, Cameron performed proper again and the U.S. misplaced. Within the different two video games, with Cameron used as a center-half, the U.S. recorded a win and a draw.
It was at round this time that Klinsmann recommended that Cameron wanted time in central protection.
On Geoff Cameron: Klinsmann actually desires him to drive himself into Stoke lineup as a beginning heart again. Says it is as much as Cameron to do it.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) October 11, 2013
A month earlier, Cameron had surprisingly stopped speaking to the media:
Geoff Cameron does himself no favours not talking to media. Appears valuable and egotistical no matter his causes. Must not less than clarify
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) September 4, 2013
Re Geoff Cameron, I simply do not perceive his silence. Was at all times charming and useful in previous as are the remainder of an ego-free USA group
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) September 5, 2013
One thing that was later put all the way down to fatigue, as he informed ESPN’s Doug McIntyre on September 30:
“It was nothing against the media or anyone in particular. There was a point in the summer I was just mentally fatigued coming off of 18 months of nonstop play, then joining up with the national team for three or four weeks, and I decided the best thing was to control what I could, put my head down, and stay focused.”
As 2013 drew to an in depth, Cameron was incomes rave evaluations for his performances at proper again below Hughes. On December 21, Cameron bagged his first help of the season, in an essential 2-1 win in opposition to Aston Villa.
After the competition, Steve Davis of NBC’s ProSoccerTalk.com, had this to say.
“Cameron had a big day down the Stoke City flank, nearly scoring early, getting in on the first goal, and then supplying the cross for his team’s winner.”
“Here’s the deal: playing right back this year for Mark Hughes is apples and oranges compared to playing as an outside back last year under defensive specialist Tony Pulis. Hughes told Cameron he would enjoy playing right back–and the big U.S. international certainly seems to be doing so, stretching those long legs regularly along the right flank.”
On the again of 4 video games with out defeat, Hughes singled out Cameron for his robust play.
“Geoff’s done really well,” Hughes informed Sky Sports activities. “I believe he is proven all people that he is an completed soccer participant, at first, and he has the flexibility to play in several positions.
“Clearly he is performed principally for me at fullback and achieved that very effectively. He is an actual a part of our attacking menace as effectively together with his capacity to hitch in excessive up the sector.”
“His versatility is great from my point of view because I can move him around and you know you’re not going to lessen the side because he can make an impact wherever you pick him.”
In the course of the vacation season, nevertheless, Stoke suffered a string of poor performances. The membership went winless in six matches, shedding 5 of these contests and conceding 11 targets within the course of. Cameron’s culpability on this stretch grew to become a sizzling subject on message boards.
“He’s the kind of player you want that wins the ball, can get up and down, and plays it simple. I’m starting to wonder whether right back is the position for him, despite looking one of our better players this season,” commented Onemanbang on Oatcake Fanzine on January 18.
A 1-0 FA Cup loss in opposition to Chelsea on January 26 did little to assist issues, and a few cynical Stoke followers turned on Cameron.
“We need a proper right back. Preferably one that can cross the ball. Cameron isn’t a right back,” stated Unknown182 on the Oatcake Fanzine board, following the Chelsea sport.
MysticalDescent added, “He can’t cross and he can’t defend to save his life, but aside from that he’s wonderful.”
Voices of purpose had been current too: “Wow, a few weeks ago we were praising him for being brilliant. Now look at you all! Today he played against one of the best wingers in the world in Hazard with very little or no support,” typed Howedy.
In the meantime, rumors linking Cameron with a transfer to Sunderland appeared through the January switch window.
Sources are telling me Sunderland did in truth method Stoke about shopping for Geoff Cameron but it surely was declined. Cameron is joyful at Stoke.
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) January 31, 2014
And outcomes began to enhance, starting with a confidence-boosting win in opposition to Premier League title-holders Manchester United.
Since its 2-1 victory on February 1, Stoke has misplaced only one match—in opposition to free-scoring Manchester Metropolis. And Cameron has appeared in each minute of each sport in 2014, main some to query his standing as a “fringe player” with the U.S. nationwide group.
So Geoff Cameron begins/goes 90 in nearly each sport for a group in a high euro league and he’s nonetheless thought-about a fringe #USMNT participant?
— Astroheader (@Astroheader) February 12, 2014
As Cameron informed Sciaretta in The New York Instances this week:
“I’m playing in one of the best leagues in the world. The best players in the world are playing here in the Premier League. That’s good for my confidence. I feel like I am here for a reason, because I’m a good enough player to play in this league and be a consistent starter every week.”
And that consistency will little question result in a World Cup roster spot. Will he play fullback for Jurgen Klinsmann? Central protection? Within the midfield? All three? That continues to be to be seen.
As one fan stated on Twitter:
Geoff Cameron has severely been immense this season! #scfc #Stoke
— Matt (@Matt_scfc27) March 2, 2014
That is Laura Greene’s fifth On the File piece for ASN. Share your ideas on Geoff Cameron, and his optimum place, under.
