Atlanta United centerback George Campbell, the team’s newest Homegrown signing, is experiencing his first MLS training camp.
Among the things he has learned: the game is mentally and physically faster than USL, where he made 22 appearances for Atlanta United 2 last season. And that communication with teammates on the field is the key.
“In USL, they see you as a new young guy, and sometimes you get away with relying on others to communicate,” he said. “Overall, (here) they push you all around in every aspect of the game.”
Because of the numerous veterans on the roster, it seems likely that Campbell will get more starts with Atlanta United 2 than Atlanta United this season. Competing for playing time are Miles Robinson, who finished top five in MLS Defender of the Year voting last year; Fernando Meza, who was purchased from a team in LIGA MX; Franco Escobar, who has been with the team the past two seasons; Anton Walkes, recently purchased from Portsmouth in England’s League One; and Jeff Larentowicz, who can play the position in a pinch.
But Campbell wisely said that he isn’t yet sure of expectations and, continuing to show that he may be more mature than his age, noted:
“I don’t want to be in a position where if I am called upon I’m not ready,” he said. “Training is going to be really hard. I just have to keep going and see where the season starts. As we go, maybe I’ll have more knowledge on where my path is going to be this year. At the end of day, I want to play as many games in MLS and CONCACAF as possible.”
Campbell said manager Frank de Boer, one of the best centerbacks in the sport’s history, is working with him on two things: positioning and communication.
Campbell didn't grow up playing centerback. His family moved from Philadelphia, where he was in its academy, to Atlanta, when he was 12. Atlanta United academy director Tony Annan said a counterpart with the Union told him that they didn't see Campbell making it as a player.
After watching him for a while, Annan disagreed ... to a point.
Campbell was talented, but quiet and uncoordinated. He typically was the 16th, 17th man on the roster. Campbell didn’t have a position, either. He was being used as a midfielder.
Two years ago, at a tournament in Mexico, the coaching staff needed a centerback. They moved Campbell from central midfielder to centerback. Campbell excelled.
“That was it,” Annan said. “He was a centerback from that moment on.”
Fullback George Bello, the same age as Campbell, but already a veteran of the training camps, said he is already fitting in well with the team. Bello good-naturedly jumped ahead of Campbell when doing interviews after Thursday’s training session because he said Campbell is a “rookie.”
Campbell played a few minutes in Wednesday’s scrimmage against Philadelphia at IMG Academy and earned praise from the coaches when he tackled a Union player along the sidelines near the benches, got up and kept the ball from going out, lifted his head and found goalkeeper Brad Guzan before successfully completing the 35-yard pass.
Campbell modestly said it was similar to what Robinson had been doing most of the scrimmage. Campbell and Robinson are roommates in Florida, so they are helping each other. In previous seasons, Robinson was in a similar position as Campbell is this season: blessed with physical gifts, just needing more experience. It took Robinson two years in the USL before he broke out last year to become one of the league’s best defenders in one-on-one situations.
“You can tell when he makes a good play how the coaches react,” he said. “On the bench … that’s the easiest way for me to learn, and having the assistants and coaches talk to me as well.”
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