For those who don’t know... Kik Pierie is a Dutch dual-national who seems to prefer the Netherlands over the US, however he has said that he’s open for the US and his path to the Dutch team is very slim - even with Van Dijk out injured. So, we should believe we’re in the running here. What makes Piere so interesting is that he can play center back, or left back in a pinch. We need both. Obviously, we know that we need left back cover. As of now, there’s no one behind Antonee Robinson who is an international level player. We have some prospects in Vines and Bello (maybe a couple others), but they have a long ways to go to be considered trusty national team players. Meanwhile, we do seem to have a lot of depth at center back, but I should stress it’s good-not-great talent. Also, there is a drop off in center back talent once we get into the 2000s birth year. We should be okay this World Cup. We will probably be about the same next World Cup. But it looks barren after that. Sure, someone can emerge in 8 years time. But, look what happened to the goalkeeper situation... we said - don’t worry about it... the US always produces quality goalkeepers... and now, goalkeeper is the weakest position in the USMNT. As a lesson, we must stay on the forefront of ensuring our player pool is solid. Besides, we should be hopeful in 2026 with a center back duo in Kik Piere (Ajax) and Chris Richards (Bayern Munich) - both very promising central defenders. Also, we need to look at the quality of the player. Piere struggled last year, after having a breakthrough year the year before. As a result, a lot of fans have written him off... which seems now very premature. Piere is having a best XI season on loan at FC Twente. And we can imagine that Ajax is going to want to have him back next year. As far as playing style - the impression I have is someone who’s a sort of cross between Carlos Bocanegra and Tim Ream. He’s a good player out the back, he sees the game well, and he’s good at shutting down the channels - like Ream. Like Bocanegra, I imagine that’s his ceiling. But unlike Bocanegra, he’s a little less physically gifted and instead plays more technical like Ream. In either case, he’s like both in that he’s a good leader and center back is his primary position. But he can adequately fill in at left back if needed. Simply, we would really boost our defense with someone like Piere in the squad. We should hope that Berhalter and Stewart are using their Dutch-American connections and aggressively pursuing this kid. Now, if he doesn’t want to play for us. Or, he’s going to jerk us around until right up before the World Cup. Then okay. We should move on. In the mean time, I want to see our staff trying hard to get him to represent the red, white, and blue, as soon as possible. He is arguably the most important dual-national prospect we have. https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/u...erie-usmnt-usa-twente-ajax-netherlands-oranje
Heard whispers that Kik had zero interest in talking to Berhalter and Earnie when they were at Ajax.— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) July 2, 2020 Although this is just a rumor I have no doubt Greg and Co have talked to Kik already, it could just be Kik is a Toljan type and it’s either play for his home country or bust
Kik made some rather flippant remarks about the US and the prospects of his playing for the US. Best to skip. Would rather have a sociopath than a wishy-washy mf in the team.
. I’d take him in the pool, of course, but he’s not as good as McKenzie. He also has no shot at playing for the Dutch.
we need a link of his comments pro/con i dont think its all that dire one way or the other okoh apparently would be a big get though
I thought Vines looked excellent today and it looks like he could do well in Europe if given the chance
3 new names coming for an Interview at the channel soon:. CJ Dos Santos 🇺🇸. Kik Pierie🇺🇸🇳🇱. Justin Che 🇺🇸 and Bayern player... possible Johnny Cardoso🇺🇸🇧🇷 next month.. him I will know soon !— Tactical Manager (@ManagerTactical) February 6, 2021 Looks like Kik has agreed to do an interview for a small USMNT centered YouTube channel, we should get some insight on his national team aspirations when the interview comes out
He has something. I’m interested for sure. Not sure about a top European league until he gains weight, but I could easily see him in Mexico until then. He’s on track for the olympics and one of the tournaments this year.
Nice!! Seems optimistic that we could snag him. But we’ll see. Love that he could be an option at center back or left back.
Yah, for that team in Boston, um, what are they called, hmm.... That sounded a little, um, self-serving and pulled out of his nether regions to me. I have no ill will towards the guy, but his connection to the US is literally his birth certificate. I wish FIFA would change this rule somehow so that issues like the potential of this guy suiting up for the US was not even an option. I won't begrudge him the opportunity if he does choose to rep the US, but you can tell it won't be his choice because he would rather play for us and not the Dutch, but knowing that he would not be called by the Dutch and therefore would have no choice to play internationally aside from the US. I understand the beneficial nature of this rule to the USMNT in the past, but I still just don't agree with it. I don't know what the rule should be, but it just doesn't sit well with me, this rule. I'll quit moaning about it.
The new post-Brexit British work permit rules make getting caps with the US an attractive option for those in mid-tier leagues.
I mean...is anybody else just tired of being every player's safety school? I get it. We need CB and LB depth, and Kik would satisfy both. But in all honesty, if he's only coming to the USMNT because he wasn't good enough to break into "his" country's national team, then...well...sorry, but I'm not interested. I want guys that want to bleed for that shirt, not guys that accept it only because "their" country didn't actually want them.
See post #18. The rules are the rules but I agree with you. I just wish the rules were much more narrow somehow so that it was not someone's choice for whom to suit up. You meet these criteria, you play for this team or not at all. While I know that sounds harsh, what is done now just makes people question the player's motives, and it some instances, rightly so.
100%. Did you read my post? I don’t begrudge any of these guys for taking advantage of the current rules I just wish there was only one option for players. A player should be eligible for one team only from birth. Again I have no idea how they should determine that but guys being able to just choose for whom they will play based on what is expedient to themselves is just less than optimal to me as a fan. I’m a fan of the US. I have a really hard time rooting whole heartedly for a team partially made up of guys who or playing for their second choice. I think Berhalter may be doing a better job of filtering those guys out a bit though. I don’t think he’s just throwing a net out to see who he can catch. It sounds like he’s giving these dual nationals an option and letting them make their own call. One hopes their motives are based on the right things.
But then that opens Pandora's box of not being able to play for the country you're a citizen of if your mom happens to be out of the country when you are born. "Sorry, I know you're American but you were born in Andorra. Good luck." Do we really want FIFA setting citizenship requirements? Thinking that could be a bad thing.
Seems like utter nonsense that you could only be eligible for one team from birth. I understand your point regarding flimsy connections feeling a bit strange, but to state that “a player should be eligible for one team only from birth” is, frankly, asinine. It also wouldn’t even solve what you’re allegedly trying to solve for considering Kik was born in Boston!