Top Stories

Cameron scouted by European clubs

USMNTJT0526122343

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

Geoff Cameron's rise from MLS standout to the U.S. men's national team may very well culminate in a move overseas in the near future.

According to the Houston Dynamo broadcast from the club's win over FC Dallas over the weekend scouts from Everton, Stoke City and Schalke were in attendance with an eye on the U.S. national team centerback, who turns 27 next month.

Cameron attracting overseas interest is a developing trend. Last month, SBI reported that the versatile Cameron had suitors lining up in Germany, England, Portugal and the Netherlands. Cameron has two more years on his current deal with the Dynamo, and according to MLS' official website, Dynamo president Chris Canetti said that he is aware of the interest in Cameron but that no formal offers have been made to the club just yet.

What do you think of this development?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Twon,

    If you are referring to the interview JK did with Greg Lalas, which is still available on the MLS site, that interview reinforces my point, which is that every player is different and it is pretty much a case by case basis.

    JK says for MOST American teenagers MLS makes more sense for a number of reasons, but he NEVER says it should be the path for EVERY American. His point is, it is much better to play than not, even if it is at a lower level. Josh Gatt, who was playing in high school in Detroit only three years ago, for example, obviously made the right move for him.

    This is what you wrote in your first post
    “Even Jurgen thinks young players, should stay in MLS first, then make the jump.”

    Later on you wrote:

    “On MLS soccer.com Jurgen had a interview with Greg, he said, that MLS is the path young players should, take. He said many can not make the jump right away and MLS provides the path. I remember what the hell he said.”

    You heard what you wanted to hear. Go back and listen to it again. There is a huge difference between what he said and what you THINK he said.

    http://theoriginalwinger.com/2011-11-12-mlssoccer-interview-jurgen-klinnsman-part-2

    By the way Marcus Tracy’s problem was having a pair of bum knees not playing in Denmark. He never really got going because of his injuries. It wasn’t mikey’s fault.

    Reply
  2. Just a couple of friendly counterpoints:

    1. DeRo wanted to be traded because he thought his home team would pay him the big bucks.

    2. Denying players transfers–especially big opportunities like this–will NOT make them happy.

    3. The transfer window is about to open up and there are plenty of European clubs in offseason. We stocked up pretty well last year in that window (Moffat, Camargo, Costly) so I wouldn’t worry too much until it’s August and there are no new defensive signings.

    Reply
  3. Cameron’s not on his rookie contract anymore. He has a very high salary for an MLS player (>$200k). Plus he has 2 yrs remaining on said contract.

    Buyout will probably be close to Tim Ream’s.

    Reply
  4. His play at CB hasn’t been as stellar as it was at the end of last season, but Cameron’s hardly having a “bad” year.

    There were a couple rough games near the beginning of the season (including Seattle where Geoff conceded a PK and had a unlucky OG), but he’s been pretty solid since.

    Lately, Corey Ashe’s poor form and Andre Hainault’s rust have contributed to Houston’s defensive woes.

    Reply
  5. Story in the German press says Schalke is looking at Cameron because of interest from big clubs (Man City, etc.) in = in big interest in Schalke’s 20-year-old Greek international Kyriakos Papadopoulos, in case he is poached this summer. Here is a link:

    http://tinyurl.com/c47oysz

    I am big Cameron fan, would love to see him (and Clint Dempsey) at Schalke.

    And speaking of Germany, also am wondering whether Michael Bradley might return to the Bundesliga this summer. Apparently, according to some Italian press stories a couple of weeks ago, some interest coming from Germany. But recent stories in Italy are strongly linking MB to Palermo, like this story, which says Chievo paid a 1.2-million-euro transfer fee last summer for MB.

    http://tinyurl.com/cyatgz8

    Reply
  6. Cameron’s cap value and market value are two different issues. A transfer fee would go to the mortgage and the bottom line even if it didn’t go to the cap but instead Cameron’s salary came off. All fairness the money brought into the bank might go to some acquisition’s paycheck, and maybe even some of Cameron’s cap room might shift across in the abstract, even if it is somewhat apples and oranges.

    “Standing in the way of the transfer?” This is not a charity where player interests trump team needs. He hasn’t delivered a championship to deserve a favor. We own the player, we have the right to options, and we have our own competitive concerns to consider. He’s the best defender on a mediocre defense. I wouldn’t transfer him unless I had a replacement ready. If I have to pay options well get out the checkbook.

    No, I think the reality is we don’t want to pay the options and instead want to reap the profit, even if we lack a Plan B waiting. If we won’t pay the options this would be our window to sell, he could leave in winter on a free, or perhaps exercise the options from his own end. So since this is about quick $$$ we will leap first and look later.

    If there’s any doubt it’s about $$$, tacitly placing him in the shop window, not denying it, and naming the interested parties publicly is surely intended to push up the going rate. “You’re bidding against Schalke with that?” I think we’d be more circumspect if there was a stronger possibility he’d stay.

    I’m just a tad concerned this is all “Hunter Pence think.” You watch that game tonight and you see a handful of good players (Davis, Bruin, Cameron), and he’s one. So that’s the one you sell? It only makes sense in a cutesy general manager sense where bluntly I think we’re missing the big picture of not letting more foundational pieces leave if we have trophy/CCL aspirations.

    Reply
  7. On MLS soccer.com Jurgen had a interview with Greg, he said, that MLS is the path young players should, take. He said many can not make the jump right away and MLS provides the path. I remember what the hell he said. He said gave Landon Donovan as a example on how he struggled at a young age. MLS does play young players, soony Saad is 19yr and started his first game tonight. As academies grow, the talent will go to MLS first.

    Reply
  8. Just giving you crap for Appiah. The Cameron $$ is not needed to bring in another striker or AM. Any player brought in now costs half salary to the cap. Next year fitting them all under the cap is another story. As far as Cameron is concerned, yes, losing him will suck. However, I do not see Dom standing in his way of a transfer. We should score some good cash, but finding a replacement this season will be tough. Hopefully, we can talk Ibaghea into signing on as a HG, but he will be help in a couple seasons.

    Reply
  9. I Voice,

    Cameron’s criteria for a club should follow the formula that worked for successful American players ( see Friedel, Howard, Keller, Hahnemann at Reading, McBride, Dolo, Boca, Jozy, Dempsey, Donovan’s loans, Holden, Ream, Bradley, Gooch in his Portugal and in Belgium stints, Sacha,, etc., etc.) in Europe and the UK:

    – A stable club management
    – A management and staff that are all believe in him and really want him.
    – An available role in the team suited to his kills.
    – A coaching staff capable of integrating him and bringing the best out of him
    – Players that are willing to accept him

    At 26 Cameron is older than most of these guys when they were starting. He already has all the balls skills he is likely to ever get. What will happen if he is successful and becomes a regular is he will sharpen and refine those skills, learn how to use them at a different tempo, and develop a much clearer idea of where and when to use them. For example, MB 90 isn’t doing anything in Italy he did not do before he got there. He is just much more disciplined, consistent and intelligent in terms of how he goes about his business.

    Reply
  10. lol…well show me 300 prominent liberals and 300 prominent conservatives and Ill show YOU a dozen globalists who control them.

    Anyway he can play in Europe for sure but he’s not going to be playing in a top league at CB, they’ll move him to DM. Hes showing this year (and right now if your watching the game) that he’s not a elite CB

    Reply
  11. How are you going to “make him sign a new contract”?

    Now MLS did “make” Donovan sign that extension before the 2010 World Cup but that was because Landon wanted to go on loan to Everton and MLS would not let him do that without him signing the extension.

    LD used that Everton loan to get a shot in the arm for the 2010 World Cup and it worked since he had an excellent performance both in the EPL and the World Cup. Of course the extension was very lucrative but it also tied Landon to the Galaxy longer than I’m sure he wanted to be tied.

    Cameron is not exactly in the same situation.

    Reply
  12. Twon,

    You have Klinsmann’s quotes wrong.Jürgen never said “young players should stay in MLS first, then make the jump.” Jürgen only said young Americans need to go somewhere where they can learn to be professionals. That could be MLS, it could be Europe or it could be Mexico or South America. Everyone is different; it has to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

    from the Slane article:

    “I really don’t like the whole thing to shoot up players at the age of 18, 19 or 20,” said Klinsmann, who starred as a player for Germany. “That’s far too early without having proven consistent qualities yet. Qualities are more than you see on the field. There are qualities of understanding your job and living the right lifestyle – understanding what it means to eat right and to sleep well and be responsible off the field.

    “To learn all these elements is going to take years. I think I played my first cap at 24, and I still made over 100 (caps) through my career.”

    “There should be a far more down-to-earth approach,” Klinsmann said. “Because of one good season they’ve shot up Agudelo, Bunbury and Brek Shea to the new faces of MLS, and I said, ‘What’s that? They’re just learning right now.’ They’re all raw.”

    Rather than advising Americans to sign with bigger clubs where they will struggle to find first-team minutes – like former Manchester United signings Jonathan Spector and Kenny Cooper had in the past – Klinsmann wants his players to go somewhere where they’ll gain experience both on and off the pitch.”

    Jürgen only said young Americans need to go somewhere where they can learn to be professionals. That could be MLS, it could be Europe or it could be Mexico or South America. Everyone is different; it has to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

    MLS does not really focus on developing Americans per se (unlike the Mexican clubs). They seem to view Americans as filler, cheap and easily marketable but when they want the real thing they always seem to go foreign. Most of the young Americans with talent will head abroad, if they can manage it , because they want to be paid and coached a little better and have a little more freedom of moment if they start to develop.

    Reply

Leave a Comment