The versatile Geoff Cameron is currently in January camp with the USMNT preparing for games against Venezuela and Panama. After years of playing several positions, the Houston Dynamo player has finally found a home playing center back.
“It is good that I have a position now.” “It has given me an opportunity to train here with the national team and I am thankful for that,’ Cameron said on moving to play center back full-time. “It gives me an opportunity to get better and better at a position.” “Before I would go back from center back to center mid to outside mid to here and there.” “Where I never had the chance to maybe excel and understand a position as well as I could.”
The reason why it took so long for Cameron to make the full time switch to center back is because his diverse skill set allow him to play multiple positions well. The Dynamo player likes to set up the attack from the midfield, which is why he previously played center defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder for Houston.
He wants to help his team start up the attack and help set up goals, which he has done with Houston totaling 11 goals and 13 assists in his career thus far. However, it finally seems like Cameron will be playing center back full-time with the USMNT and Houston.
Now Jurgen Klinsmann is the coach of the USMNT, the former University of Rhode Island player can still use his possession style mindset playing in the back line for the US. Klinsmann wants the USMNT to hold onto the ball more and having players like Cameron who can progress the attack from the back will be beneficial for the USMNT.
Defenders will no longer be kicking hopefully long balls to forwards to try and link up with their teammates. Instead, players like the 2009 and 2011 MLS all-star are needed to set up with USMNT attack.
“I think playing out of the back is very important.” “I use to play midfield so I know how it is when you just get the ball and defenders would just kick it,” Cameron said. “There are times when we need to do that to clear our lines but most of the time he (Klinsmann) wants us to play out of pressure.” “Keep possession of it and start the attack out of the back and that is one thing that we try to do.”
Do not get lost in believing that Cameron is only playing defense for Klinsmann because he can play the ball with his feet. The Dynamo player is one of the best defenders in the MLS and the stats can prove it.
The last ten games for Houston, Cameron played as a center back and during those games his club had a record of 7-1-2 and gave up only seven goals. Also, all four of the away games the Dynamo won during the regular season and playoffs occurred when Cameron was playing defense.
Defensively with the USMNT, the Dynamo player and his teammates have also been working on tactics during the camp. Cameron said the coaches have been working on pressuring the opposition and how as a center back he must communicate with his teammates to move in a certain direction to win the ball back.
He also said the camp has been hard work, but it has been more enjoyable for himself and his teammates with Klinsmann as manager.
“Jurgen is just a happy guy, he is just smiling all the time he’s positive.” “He is just a really nice guy and I think that kind of feeds off and rubs off everyone else,”Cameron said about Klinsmann.” ”Guys are just enjoying themselves a little bit more, where in my past guys felt like they were walking on egg shell.” “At dinner guys can talk joke around and even at practice we are enjoying ourselves but at the same time we are putting our hard work in.”
While Cameron is enjoying himself, the camp is still serious. The Dynamo player is looking to be a big part of the USMNT success the next to games, and of course he wants to win. He is also trying to earn a spot with the full national team after being a part of the January Camp numerous times.
“Just be consistent.” “Show well in these two games coming up and if they like you good you are kind of in,” Cameron said on trying to earn more time with the USMNT. “Just take it one day at a time leave in all on the field.” “That is what I have kind of been doing, trying to take full advantage of the time I have here, because you do not know when you will be back.”
Cameron will get his chance to impress the USMNT coaches this Saturday against Venezuela.