Heard some big changes are on the way for Alliance. Issues at some other clubs as well with administrators looking to take their kids elsewhere? As I told one DOC at one of these clubs, "You're worst nightmare are parents getting smarter about youth soccer". This seems to be happening at a more rapid rate this Spring. Also - Sockers released this... removed the location barrier from the HS Girls program and will be assembling teams based on age group and playing level, not by location. Terry [Adamson] has been hired as the NPL director which gives the girls in this location the opportunity to train with him on a regular basis. This is the second of two big announcements for the CL location and I hear there will be more from Sockers - Schaumburg/Palatine in terms of integration.
Heard the relationship among staff at Alliance has completely broken down. PM looking to get rid of SW, and SW trying to get PM suspended from NISL for tampering...nightmarish stuff. That whole area up there is messy...Cary Defenders staffing changes, Alliance at war with each other, and Force have the stones to say they've got the best coaching staff in the county? Even the director there is "D" licensed! It's too bad the Sockers up there can't find the numbers...KS received "A" license and now on staff with USSDA Academy, TA now NPL girls director? I'd say that's the best coaching in the area.
I heard SW and SW were dumping PM and leaving (with the club) to Elgin. Sort of a far ride for those kids... Force has some very strong coaches but their biggest challenge is they are not developing. C kids practice with C coaches while A kids practice with the likes of KR and get more time on the ball - leaving the C kids to remain as such and completely ignoring the fact that kids develop at different times and stages. They die there as far as I am concerned. Cary and Stamford are non-starters - existing parents there are already looking elsewhere.... *glorified rec*
As far as I'm concerned, any club that has to tell people they have the top coaches, proclaim themselves national champions for winning the Presidents Cup, and not put ANY boys players into a college program will never be good club. Can't wait to hear about them winning the Eclipse Spring Classic even though they're in second- and third-divisions. So much mis-information...they should just be honest and promote themselves for what they are: a higher-level community travel program. Nothing more, nothing less. Let the program speak for itself.
FC1 hired IM as their new doc. Is that a wise decision when they are going through turbulent waters? I don't know. Did he leave evanston voluntarily or involuntarily? Inquiring minds want to know.
I was led to believe that the area is a mess - nasty letters going out to current players parents, mergers, coaches leaving, players leaving. Heck I even thought I heard a High School was in the mix!
Hey, a friendly request from your moderator to shy away from a lot of gossip and hearsay about specific clubs and personnel. Just want to avoid giving the impression that this site is taking sides in any conflicts. Not weighing in one way or the other. Thanks.
We received this email recently from 2/3 owners of the club our daughter plays on. As you may have heard, one of our Shareholders XXX XXX has filed a lawsuit to prevent us from having our Annual Shareholder's Meeting. We are not sure what his intentions are but perhaps he wants to start another Club while he is working for XXX XXX FC. It is our intention as majority Shareholders to continue running XXX XXX FC and provide our members with what is promised in your player fee outline. It's a difficult situation for us and the team because we have been led to believe that the club will leave Crystal Lake and move to Elgin which will make it hard for us - but hard also for everyone from a commute perspective. So we are not sure what to do. Being that it's nearly try out season makes it worse because all the talk has us going in different directions constantly. Had this started in Fall we could have at least seen how it would play out and then make a decision on what to do from there. Any suggestions?
Club ownership in a legal battle? Future of the club in the balance?? Run. Run fast. In all seriousness, if it's location that you're worried about, I'd look to have a good honest chat with PM to see where his future lies. If the club fractures, it'd be a safe bet that the W's bring it back to Elgin. They have no facilities in the CL area...no sports center or access to NUSC fields... My guess is PM will either start a new club (again) or get involved with an already existing organization. In that area there's probly only 1 club where he'd be welcome...just a bit east of Crystal Lake tho...
Chicago Alliance FC will continue to use NUSC/Snap On and Elgin for the 2015/2016 seasons as it has for the past two years. Hope this helps you separate the real "Facts" from fiction and those same few individuals who always spread self-serving rumors to fit their own agendas.
If I see PM again, I'm gonna drag his but* to the nearest payless shoe store and buy him a pair of cheap shoes. What's up with that guy? It's health and hygiene issue. Other than that, I like how he coaches and develops players. Also a pretty decent guy.
I'm not a share holder with Chicago Alliance so you can ask me any question you want and I won't have any hidden agenda of spreading ridiculous rumors that I have heard from someone who heard from someone and may or may not be true. One that I CAN put to rest is the club is not moving to Elgin, but that is a brilliant rumor to spread to have parents worry about if they can keep their kid with their team. Great job to whoever started that. However - even if it were, the commute from the Crystal Lake area to Elgin area is shorter than the commute from Crystal Lake to Schaumburg for those Sockers parents who are looking forward to the "removal or location barrier" and "integration".
One point is that the NUSC fields were managed by members of the folded Northwest United (SC) group. If they still operate at the same level they did years ago, then why would they not rent space to an Alliance without PM? Frankly I do not see that happening - it's $$$ and who ever is running that facility now is doing well with Alliance, Stamford and Lacrosse. I don't see Alliance having to abandon that location.
In addition to the Snap on field in Crystal Lake, the Alliance also utilizes a practice field conveniently located just off of Rt 31 and 90 in Elgin. The club also uses the gymnasium at said location during the winter months, which is great for conditioning and futsol. But.......I also consider Olympic Park in Schaumburg our home field. Since most of the club's boy teams are in NISL's Premier League, ALL of our games are played there.
Yeah - having them in the NISL was a smart move. Alliance teams are definately playing in the more demanding leagues which is good. YSSL is a complete joke IMO. Do the boys play up an year during indoor?
Unfortunately we played in PM joke of a league at the MAC. Our U15s played in the travel high school division which was basically a U18 division. Our U12s pulled out due to lack of competition and entered a league in Lake Barrington's field house. That decision will prove fruitful since we beat up on all 3 of the force teams at the U12 age group.
Yup - the indoor leagues there are very weak and mostly cater to rec squads. Years ago I would bring rec players over and pop them into the travel section and still paste most teams. I am not a fan of LBFH. For some reason all my kids teams played horrible there. Anyhow - I'm used to the smell at SC
PM has joined Stamford Bridge as a coach? Is this now or at the end of the season. Nice work for Stamford as PM is great with the kids and I am sure he'll bring over some good teams. The area needs an affordable club with a good approach at developing players so this will hit the spot!
I attended their info meeting last night. Sounds like it's a lot more than just PM joining Stamford Bridge. Sounds like their will be controlled expansion with an intense focus on player development at an incredibly reasonable price.
PM resigned from all capacities within the Chicago Alliance FC at 5:00pm on Sunday, May 17, 2015. PM chose not to finish his coaching obligations and commitment to his players, parents and club. PM was not forced to resign or quit by Chicago Alliance FC nor by any legal order by the McHenry County Court. SW and JW will step up and coach the remainder of PM teams games this spring because as I mentioned above he QUIT on them. PM will bring some players with him but saying "teams" is stretching it. PM to Stamford Bridge is the equivalent of Mike Ditka coaching the Tigers in the movie Kicking and Screaming. Unless PM has a few Italians that just moved to the area to work in their uncles butcher shop, then a glorified rec team is not competing any time soon. But at least it will be full of laughs........
Wow - I am surprised he quit. Perhaps there is more to it though? Staying on leaves him (or any coach for that matter) in a position to influence parents, players and possibly teams to leave at the the end of the season and go with him. I would not take that chance and force his departure ASAP - again there maybe more than to the story then what you have heard Niko. Or maybe I am playing devils advocate. If not then I agree - that's very un-professional. As far as Stamford, they do a good job for the price - after all they are an intermediate soccer club. There are many young players who are involved in other activities - which makes this environment attractive - not to mention the cost. In fact I just got off the phone with a player parent from FCB who wants to play at Sockers but is running into the same issue... Cost is way to high for basically a half season of soccer. A club like Stamford is not getting her into college - likely not creating a starting high school player either. But it does allow them flexibility while saving money. And if that keeps the kid happy then so be it. CLFutball... I would not count on anything in terms of expansion. PM has been with 4 clubs in about 7 years. Now he's gone from his own club to Stamford which is a significant lower end of the youth soccer spectrum. The reality is pretty much right there with the facts but take what you wish from it. Furthermore - as long as your dealing with boards - which most of the smaller clubs have, you're going to have a hard time taking over - in fact it rarely works. That said when you say "expansion" do you mean just planting flags in the area?