The 28-year-old is likely one of the finest American soccer gamers proper now—that a lot is evident. However ought to Cameron play proper again, central defender, or defensive midfield? Blake Thomsen appeared into it.
BY
Blake Thomsen
Posted
January 28, 2014
9:35 AM
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GEOFF CAMERON’S VERSATILITY is well-established at this level. Over the previous few years for membership and nation, the rangy New England native has spent appreciable time at defensive midfielder, proper again, and heart again.
He’s confirmed he can do a succesful job at every of his three positions. However which is his finest? And maybe extra importantly, the place ought to he play for the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce within the 2014 World Cup?
To reply these questions, there are a selection of things to contemplate. We’ll first take a fast take a look at his latest nationwide workforce performances at every place.
Detailed stats are unavailable, so we’ll have to make use of the admittedly flawed (no offense, guys) system of our ASN participant scores to see how he fared at every place. In 2013 Cameron made 4 nationwide workforce appearances every at defensive mid, proper again, and heart again, so we’ll have an analogous if restricted knowledge set for every place.
(We’re not treating these scores as remotely scientific. Take into account it an aggregated “eyeball test.” We will use them to get a fundamental understanding of his play for the nationwide workforce on the numerous positions.)
We’ll begin with defensive mid, the place Cameron averaged a 6.0 ranking. The spotlight was the commanding show he delivered within the complete 2-0 qualifying win over Panama, incomes him a 7.9, his highest ranking of the 12 months at any place. Cameron’s stunning chipped help to Eddie Johnson was celebrated, and rightfully so.
However his tackling and unfastened ball restoration in that match was maybe much more spectacular.
On the flip aspect of his blinder towards Panama was the 4.2 ranking he picked up when taking part in alongside Jermaine Jones within the qualifier at Costa Rica. Cameron was thrust into motion after Michael Bradley rolled his ankle in warm-ups. Like the remainder of the workforce that wet night time, Cameron appeared overmatched and unable to retain the ball in a disappointing displaying. Two reliable performances at defensive mid off the bench, in qualifiers towards Jamaica and Honduras, noticed him earn a 5.8 and 6.0, respectively.
In 4 begins at proper again, Cameron averaged a 6.2, his finest common ranking of the three positions. His 7.3 made him the very best American on the pitch within the 1-0 pleasant loss to Austria. And he turned in a 6.3 and a 6.6 in March qualifiers towards Costa Rica and Mexico, respectively. The low level for Cameron at proper again got here in Belgium’s dismantling of the U.S. in Could. Together with the remainder of the protection, Cameron struggled to deal with Belgium’s dynamic motion within the 4-2 defeat. He acquired a 4.7 for his troubles, a ranking that was in all probability inflated by his Twenty second-minute objective.
Cameron struggled at heart again for the U.S., averaging only a 5.4 in 4 begins. He was wonderful within the residence win over Jamaica, incomes a 6.7. However the remainder of the 12 months was not fairly, with the ugliest efficiency bringing him a 3.8 within the 2-1 loss in Honduras. Cameron and fellow heart again Omar Gonzalez had been off the tempo all through, particularly on Jerry Bengston’s eventual winner.
He additionally picked up a 5.4 towards Bosnia-Herzegovina and a 5.5 towards Scotland.
Now, 4 video games at every place is way too small of a pattern dimension to be conclusive. And, irrespective of how educated ASN readers are, participant scores can’t be trusted as legislation. However we do begin to see the emergence of some traits: Cameron was most constant at proper again, confirmed some promise at defensive mid, and struggled within the heart of protection.
Given this background, we are able to now analyze his performances for Stoke Metropolis to be taught extra about Cameron’s finest place. By taking a look at in depth stats from Cameron’s present Premier League marketing campaign, we are able to see sure strengths and weaknesses that align together with his U.S. performances from the previous 12 months. Extra importantly, we are able to analyze these similar strengths and weaknesses to see the place Cameron can be finest fitted to the U.S. transferring ahead, particularly given the prevailing depth charts at every place.
Cameron’s most noteworthy power this season has been his unbelievable proficiency in unfastened ball recoveries. He leads all Premier League defenders with 125, a stat that highlights simply how a lot floor he is ready to cowl—in addition to his wonderful anticipation.
One other outstanding power for Cameron this 12 months has been interceptions. He’s fourth amongst Premier League defenders with 53. This doesn’t assist us an excessive amount of as we search to reply our query about his finest place, although, as the flexibility to select up interceptions can also be helpful at every of his three positions.
Cameron’s remaining two robust statistical areas are crosses performed and profitable dribble take-ons. He’s second within the league amongst defenders in profitable take-ons with 32, and he’s third in crosses performed with 75. This reveals that Cameron has completely thrived within the attacking third, the place he’s proven a formidable means to beat opposing defenders and ship high quality service into the field. These two stats are actually probably the most helpful at proper again, because it’s not often essential for defensive mids and heart backs to dribble previous gamers.
By taking a look at Cameron’s strengths, we’ve largely merely established that he’s good at soccer. His high quality in recovering unfastened balls and intercepting passes performs nicely anyplace on the pitch. And his distinctive numbers for crosses and profitable take-ons present that he’s a superb attacking proper again, however they don’t essentially discredit his case to play within the heart of the pitch, whether or not as a midfielder or defender.
It’s after we take a look at Cameron’s weaknesses, nevertheless, that we begin to clearly see what his finest place is. Cameron doesn’t have many weaknesses, however those who he does have are magnified at some positions and obscured at others.
The primary main weak point for Cameron—a stunning one—is his aerial duel share. Cameron has solely gained 62.5% of his aerial duels, which is poor for a six-foot-three athlete. For comparability, his Stoke backline mates Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth (the gamers retaining him from taking part in heart again) common 70.2% success, whereas Vincent Kompany leads the league at 78.9%.
Although Cameron’s tall body would counsel aerial dominance, it appears it’s extra helpful for making prolonged strides, which assist him cowl big areas of floor rapidly. His unimposing aerial play actually undermines his case to play at heart again, and it’s not nice for his defensive midfield resume, both.
However Cameron’s deepest flaw, and the one that the majority completely outlines what his finest place is, is his poor passing share. Cameron has solely accomplished 73.1% of his passes this 12 months, an alarmingly low quantity. A few of this is because of his place and the tactical system that Stoke performs. However that can’t totally clarify how low this quantity is, not when some Premier League fullbacks have percentages within the excessive 80s.
A restricted means to finish passes isn’t deadly for a fullback—giveaways aren’t usually too pricey, and proper backs are not often requested to be key contributors within the buildup. It’s defensive mid and heart again which might be fatally broken by poor passing accuracy, and Cameron has come below fireplace for shaky passing shows at each positions for the U.S. nationwide workforce.
Given his excellence in lots of attributes wanted at proper again and his struggles in essential areas for defensive mids and heart backs, Cameron’s finest place actually seems to be proper again. And contemplating the U.S.’ depth chart, Jurgen Klinsmann can be clever to play Cameron there.
Middle again is comparatively steady due to Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez, with Clarence Goodson and maybe John Brooks in a position to fill in if wanted. Defensive mid is in first rate palms as nicely, irrespective of how a lot ire Jermaine Jones will get from U.S. followers. It’s proper again that represents the largest space of want. Brad Evans has by no means felt like a everlasting answer, Timmy Chandler is in worldwide exile, Steve Cherundolo seems like he could lastly succumb to accidents, and Eric Lichaj is clearly not a favourite of Klinsmann’s.
All instructed, the items are in place to put in Cameron because the U.S. nationwide workforce’s first-choice proper again. It’s his finest place, and in addition the largest space of want for the nationwide workforce. If Cameron continues to carry out at such a excessive degree at proper again for Stoke, he’ll be laborious to disregard.
What do you assume Cameron’s finest place is? The place would you play him on the nationwide workforce? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
Blake Thomsen is a frequent ASN contributor. Comply with him on Twitter.
All statistics courtesy of Opta.
