Geoff Cameron gave a stand-out performance for the USA against Ghana (Picture: AP)

In typical end-of-season fashion, the rumour mill is circulating around who will sign who and when. For Stoke, that rumour mill continues to spin – despite the signing of no fewer than four players before the transfer window has even opened.

As is the norm during the World Cup tournament, names from the teams competing are being linked with clubs from all over the world. The tournament is the biggest, most-watched showcase of footballing talent on the planet, so naturally scouts will be on the lookout for the next ‘big signing’.

I’ve found it somewhat strange that, this time around, Stoke fans aren’t particularly looking at who we could sign from the tournament that could improve us.



Instead, the focus seems to be on watching those who are already Stoke players, and are competing – Geoff Cameron, Asmir Begovic, Wilson Palacios and Peter Odemwingie.


I’ve already discussed Begovic’s performance for Bosnia, but most standout at the moment has to be the performance by Geoff Cameron against Ghana.

Since signing for Stoke, Geoff has played on the right side of defence – usually as an attacking full-back.

Despite playing well last season under Mark Hughes’ guidance, though, this isn’t Geoff’s natural or favoured position.

Around the midway point of last season, both Geoff and his national boss Jurgen Klinsmann discussed his role – where it was made clear that, not only does he prefer playing in central defence, but Klinsmann also sees him as a central defender.

On the few occasions that Geoff has played as either a central defender or defensive midfielder in the red-and-white stripes of Stoke, he has looked out of sorts, lacking confidence, slow and unsteady. Essentially, everything he wasn’t against Ghana.

So, is it a case of him not being able to perform on the right side of defence on that international stage? Or are we playing him out of position at club level?

I pondered, with the signing of Phil Bardsley, whether Mark Hughes was considering repositioning Geoff, or whether he was simply creating a competition for places.

Cameron will be looking to carry his form from into his club performances (Picture: AP)

Both Bardsley and Andy Wilkinson can play right back; we have strong competition for central defence with Ryan Shawcross, Marc Muniesa, Robert Huth and Marc Wilson all having played there last year.

If Geoff can carry his form from the World Cup over into his club games, as well as his confidence, there is no reason why he couldn’t comfortably provide stern competition for a central defensive role.

Indeed, he would be like yet another new signing.

There’s no harm in competition for places and, in defence at least, we certainly seem to have strength-in-depth.

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