So what the hell is up with this team? Are we coming back? Dropping down? Taking a year off?

It would seem that maybe the wheels on the Patriots train are coming loose. Despite haveing mediocre to sh!tty teams these past years, attendance was steady and the team didnt seem to be in financial trouble. That changed this season with the disatrous Sun Bowl deal. On the field, things seemed to be gettig better with good showing early on in the season, but that dissapeared as the season went on.

Truth is, I am getting tired of the same crap team, same crap results and the same even crappier players. I hope that someone in the Cervantes camp is feeling the same way. (Hell I hope Cervantes himself feels the same way.) Something has to give around here, management has to take their head out of their a$$ and realize that this formula theyve been using isn't going to work. The climate in American soccer in 1995 and 2004 are totally different. Whereas in 1995 we could get away with fielding a team with locals and old pros who had an edge by being close to the border, in 2004 we can't and shouldn't. American soccer has advanced way too much for this team to pull this kinda of crap.

To me it seems that the success in 1995 kinda ruined whatever chances this team had in terms of future growth. To me it seems that Cervantes thought the Pats would have an advantage by having players with ties to soccer across the river, which would lead to superior teams. In theory this could hold true in 1995 with American club soccer not as advanced as Mexico's where we were getting some of our players. Nine years later, however, there's no way in hell this could happen. Whether some of my fellow El Pasoan soccer fans like it or not, american soccer is becoming more and more organized and competitive. If this team want to become competitive, they have to stop getting these has been and never will bes from across the river and start getting players who are the real deal.

As you can tell I am just sick and tired of the losing and the same stupid crap management gives us every season. I am at the point where whenever I think of the Pat's, I cant hep but laugh at them because of what an absolute joke this team has become to me. I am hopeful that things might change one of these days, but I am not holding my breath as much as I did before.

I realize that this team hasn't been overly horrible, but it still anoys me that we have been getting the same results when I know that it is possible to be a better club. Something has to give around here.

Chuy,
I agree that the quality of play in the A-League has greatly improved over the last 10 years. In regards to the Mexican players, the guys in the early and mid nineties as a whole were definitely a cut above the current complement. Back then, most players were still in their prime and playing in division 1 (or had very recent D1 experience).

I can't get into details about this matter, but rumor mill has it that the Patriots are looking at moving to another city. I am not sure when this would take place, but they are looking.

I have heard the same rumors. It seems that even the players don't know what will happen, but I guess that is nothing new. I for one hope they stay here and can do something to improve but I am not going to hold my breath either.

You have got to be f*cking kidding me?!?! If this turns out to be true, it shows how full of sh!t this team is. I can't freaking believe this.

Not to kick a dead horse or anything, but the management wouldn't really have to go all that far afield to find decent talent...right here in Texas for cripes sake. There are several Texans playing for A-league and MISL up north and out east. SMU churns out pretty darn good players year after year, too. Not all MLS quality but at least A-league decent.

If team is thinking about moving, does that mean selling? Would the owner run a team in a different city? Seems unlikely to me. Where would it move? Only two, maybe three choieces in Texas.

I've actually heard stirrings that there is a group/person in Austin considering developing an A-league team. Only thing is, I'm not sure whether or not this was a joke someone was playing.

My kid has started pre-season with Milwaukee Wave MILS. I'm going up this weekend to see him in pre-season all league tournament. They pull 5-7,000 per game up there.

I read in one of the posts that the league is looking at getting another team for the south. Maybe an El Paso move is part of the plan?

http://www.usldiscussions.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=60;t=000032;p=1#000005

Wait,

I have been out of the loop as far as the Pat's are concerned due to school and work. Before I go off on the Pat's maybe I should get my facts straight.

Are the Patriots (including Cervantes and Princess Diana) actually considering leaving EP and taking the team with them? Or is Cervantes looking into selling the Pat's franchise right to an incoming owner? Or is he just saying so that maybe the Pat's can get some attention?

I was thinking that Cervantes is too hard headed and proud to just pack up and leave. He has already invested too much cash into an El Paso professional team to decide to give it up. Also he is a successful business man who is not about to prove otherwise.

The more I think about it, I think Cervantes is doing one of two things: Either he is saying this to get attention, or (the most likely) he is going to sell the franshice right to someone else, kick back for a while (to make up the money he has lost and to build up his team with El Pasoans) and then come back (hopefully stronger than ever). Unless he has lost his entire fortune on the team, I really don't see Cervantes giving up on pro soccer in EP.

I could be totally wrong, but we'll see whaqt happens.

From what I understand, the Patriots are looking to relocate the franchise to a different city in Texas. Unfortunately, it would not be one of the 2 or 3 cities that JFL99 mentioned. I don't know how much of the current staff would move with the team. I am not sure why the Patriots are looking at this location. I find it hard to believe that they would have a difficult time surviving in this region. I will talk about this more, when I found out something more concrete.