Stoke City: Cameron confident he can be a star in stripes for Potters
GEOFF Cameron believes he has already passed his initiation test at Stoke City ahead of Sunday's possible debut against Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium (1.30pm).
The American international reckons his one and only performance to date – in a pre-season friendly in Germany – was enough to win over any sceptics in the Stoke dressing room.
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SETTLING IN: Stoke's new signing Geoff Cameron has been given the seal of approval by his team-mates. Picture: Phil Greig/SCFC
Cameron impressed during the 1-1 draw against Greuther Furth on August 10 – and now is hoping for more of the same if he is selected to play against the Gunners.
"I'm really excited at the prospect of being there this weekend," he said.
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"But even if it doesn't happen this weekend, it will be a proud moment for me when I pull on that shirt in front of the supporters for the first time."
Cameron, imaginatively nicknamed "The Yank" by his new colleagues, added: "In the first game (versus Greuther) I did fairly well and I think I proved to the guys that this American kid can play.
"There are guys that might have different views on American soccer players and whether we play the game as well as them, but I think they have seen over in the States that there's a lot of good players there.
"Their eyes are being opened and they are seeing that soccer there is getting much better than it was.
"They have been seeing me train, but that's different from a game-type of environment and they wanted to see me play.
"Some of the guys came up to me (after the Furth game) and said I had passed the test. I said I appreciate that.
"They have been great to me. They have welcomed me with open arms and I am happy to be here."
Manager Tony Pulis has also made him feel at home – and Cameron has been quick to size up his new boss.
"He's a fiery guy and passionate. He wants to be part of the game. In every instance of the game, he wants to be part of it and encourage the guys to get better," he added.
"If something happens, he gets in the ref's face. He wants to let the ref know, 'Hey, you are messing up'."
Cameron has also been taken by the sight of Peter Crouch strutting his stuff in a Stoke shirt during his short time with the club.
"The guy is six foot, seven. When you see a guy that tall you figure he won't have the co-ordination, but he's so good," he explained.
"You can ping the ball into him and he can drop it on his chest or at his feet. This guy has played at some pretty big clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham. So to see him here at Stoke you think 'wow'."
There was a time when Cameron feared he would never quite get to be Crouch's team-mate as negotiations over his move from Houston Dynamo spluttered on over the summer.
Houston themselves were keen to do business, but his actual transfer fee had to be agreed with his league, the MLS, not his club.
That meant Cameron having to sit tight and watch from the sidelines when his future team-mates played those three friendlies in Columbus, Orlando and Kansas City on their recent tour of America.
He now reflects: "The good thing is, Dynamo supported me 100 per cent because I think it was a good deal for them as well.
"There were times when I thought it had fallen through and that Stoke had had enough, but they kept on fighting and ended up getting me.
"The stress has obviously gone now, so I can just focus on playing football."
Comments
by boothernender
Friday, August 24 2012, 8:59PM
“America owes us a gem after inflicting the worlds biggest idiot this site. Go for it Geoff.”
by wheatear
Friday, August 24 2012, 4:29PM
“jbj Try reading it again slowly! or ignore it, after all it is not aimed at you.
Back to the article.
The comments from GC are from a guy who wants to play for this club, is impressed by what he sees and excited by the prospect. So am I.
It will be great if he we have picked up a gem from america, perhaps giving the club the confidence to keep looking abroad.
Time will tell.”
by jpj_58
Friday, August 24 2012, 3:52PM
“Wheater
sadly, your last posting makes about as much sense as Tony Pulis's
choice of Substitutes, at Reading :
Incomprehensible.”
by wheatear
Friday, August 24 2012, 3:23PM
“You always have and always will anser to soccerfoot!
Please copy and paste where my comment is an insult to you?
You wont even if there was one, but I have not insulted you in this post.
It is a well known fact that for every person who does not like and sees fit to complain about something, there are 30 who do notcomment because they have the opposite viewpoint. They will be the readers who use the arrows that you so object too. Your miniscule minority comments hold no water, firstly because of the regular commentators on this site most disagree with you, with most doing their best to ignore you at any one time, and as most do not comment every day as you do, (because they do not draw breath from the comments they get back) this proves that at any one time there are just a few picking you up as I have done today for taking every opportunity to attack stoke football club which all points to the three who come on every day moaning at every turn as you do are indeed a real minority.
Do your best to understand that comment (stating you do not is your favoured reply at present as it has been before which ever identity you are speaking with) and stand by the comments you make and try to just respond to the comments you draw.
I say again, your comments on this post are just a chance to have a go at the manager, your comments today on the Huddlestone story are worse in my opinion and are clear evidence of somebody who hates the club.
Now try restricting your comments to justifying what you said and prove I am wrong.”
by SCFC4EVA
Friday, August 24 2012, 2:10PM
“wheatear, im not exactly sure what any of that means and i can only assume, considering the usual abuse, you are directing it towards me. Also, I am completely sure you have a million more answers for me. You just pull out that encylopedia sized book of insults and pick the appropriate one. Trouble is, as a child my mother taught me that sticks and stones saying. So, please go ahead with your answers. i need the laughs !”
by wheatear
Friday, August 24 2012, 1:57PM
“Careful now, you might miss the chance to grind away at the same old points! Wonder how long it will be until you call him Cameron and hope he is sold? First name terms never last long with you do they?
All for effect though, as long as you manage a negative comment about our Manager.
Go on, call me a miniscule minority again, I have another answer lined up for you.”
by SCFC4EVA
Friday, August 24 2012, 1:47PM
“good point Sullivan. players like Walters, Sidibe and Whelan who don't have much ability to play, are well in Pulis' good book !”
by LiamOSullivan
Friday, August 24 2012, 1:34PM
“Ability to play? Thats exactly what skillstarved Stokies need, but it will take you more than that to get into Pulis' good book, Cameron.”
by SCFC4EVA
Friday, August 24 2012, 1:32PM
“Geoff, we all hope you get to show your stuff and do some positive things for the Potters and the sooner the better.
Scoring on your debut can never hurt !!”