Welcome to the latest installment of MLSsoccer.com's "This or That?" Normally, that's as simple as it gets: You choose one of two things. But today, we're doing a follow up on a previous this or that, and we've added a second "or that." It won't happen often, but you've got to be flexible, no?
This or That (or That): Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, or Geoff Cameron?
Back in May, we ran a "This or That?" pitting LA Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez against New York centerback Tim Ream. At that point, both seemed worthy of our preference, but Ream stood out. He won the poll 68.5 percent to 31.5 percent. Although Gonzalez was playing well as the anchor of the league's best defense, Ream seemed to be playing at a higher level and appeared set to confirm his growing stature with the US national team at the Gold Cup.
Times change.
Ream struggled at the Gold Cup (though we'd argue he was harshly treated by fans and then coach Bob Bradley for one gaffe) and during the second half of the season. At the same time, Gonzalez just got stronger and stronger as the year went on and in the end collected the Defender of the Year award.
Meanwhile, down in Houston, a third option emerged when injuries forced Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear to move midfielder Geoff Cameron to center back. All the characteristics that made Cameron a good central midfielder — composure, size, strength, speed — make him a very good central defender.
And so, with the US national team's January camp just around the corner, the question has changed: Who do you prefer: Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, or Geoff Cameron?
