come here if you want to discuss all the positives that are happening in australian football

I will start Matty ryan is world class that save to stop the free kick..

CCM might be competitive next season.

The Lowys are gone.

Tbh, the only positive thing is that, despite us continually destroying any semblance of a football culture in this country, we still (occasionally) produce decent footballers to help us get over the line when it comes to qualifying for World Cups and the like. Imagine how strong we could be if we got our shit together?

I am 100% positive we are totally fucked. No need to think of it as a negative, just accept it, lower expectations and be happy. Celebrate every time we get a shot on target and be positive that we might do it again in the next game.

We are, slowly, very slowly, learning about the strengths of Asian football, and in particular Middle Eastern football, some 21 years after the 1997 WC qualifiers against Iran and some 11 years after the 2007 Asian Cup. We are a bit slow on the uptake, but I sense our arrogance and ignorance of Asian football is nevertheless changing. Asian football is not just Japan and South Korea, and there are football skills and football people and deep football culture that we can and will learn from. We need to respect and genuinely be interested in Asian football, to be regularly successful!

what do we need to more of? Hire more asian coaches or players? 

Well said Harry, time to learn a little respect and humility and game on, lets get it done.

These positive threads are a distraction in my opinion.

there are a lot of things wrong, and we need to discuss that.

TBH, I can't even see a positive.

this was more to talk about the players and the teams on the field.
I don't know much about grassroots, admin and other areas 

OK no worries.

I was more on the big picture. Please continue and apologies if I derailed it for you.

But in a few years, the reality of Asian and Middle Eastern Football will destroy us. They are on an upward trajectory, Their players are far better than ours. We in contrast are in sharp decline and decay, thanks to Lowie and his cronies, and the HAL.

I believe we may not even qualify for the World Cup, if we do, it will be our last for 25 years.

Thank you for positing a picture of you. If you head were not buried in the sand, I would be able to put a face to your profile.

@Melbcityguy, it’s as much philosophical and attitudinal as it is practical, although there are practical things we can do. More Asian players in the A-League would be a good start. But more than anything we need to respect and be interested in Asian football. We need to know it, and know it well. I referred to the 1997 dissapointment deiberately, because Venables really had little clue what he was up against and picked a squad of well known players who were out of form, ageing or coming back from injury. A young Kewell was the exception to that. But even 21 years after those matches, what is the general knowledge of Asian football history and culture like among Australian football supporters. Maybe I expect too much but I think your average football fan in Europe has a better knowledge of the football history and culture of their Euro neighbours than we Australian fans have of our Asian football neighbours.

We have a professional football league. It is being stifled by a salary cap which suits the administrators because they are familiar with the concept from their chosen sports. It can be fixed, and hopefully the new FFA Board will be a catalyst to this. The money being pumped into Asian Football is very very significant. That we are crimping our ability to compete by this salary cap is a disgrace. We are part of Asia, its time to get on Board. That is the only positive that I can see.

-considering all the problems with drama, political problems, salary cap and a closed league... the A-League actually has a pretty good standard of football.

-Asian football in general is improving dramatically, even if world cup results don't show it so far.  The 'big teams' might not be improving that much (Japan, Sth Korea, Australia, Iran) but a huge number of other nations are improving every year.  The domestic football competitions across Asia are improving at a much faster rate as well.  It will make our qualification more difficult for tournaments but in the long run strong competitive Asian football will be a massive plus for us, a better competitive environment for club and country.

Agree. Countries with big populations like India, china thailand and Philippines are improving at a drastic rate now they are starting to get their acts together. 

What compels people to shit all over a "positive" thread?  The OP is simply looking to focus on some positives associated with Aus football.  There's hundreds of other threads that shit on the game - go there and fill your boots.  Miserable cünts.

On a positive note, we have won and Asian cup and qualified for every world cup since 2006.

We won the ACL under Poppa.

Ange retained his job at YFM and has the springboard for second year success in the J-League.

The positive is we have produced another good set of players playing at the highest levels again (sains behich and degenek at CO, mooy and Ryan pl, rogic at Celtic, Giannou and mabil in EL) but we dont hse them correctly. We don't even pass the ball to our forwards for a start. So I think the positive is are players aren't as bad as we think.

We use to produce better players.

Where is Giannou playing. A Google search shows Cyprus First Division. If that is our call to fame, then honestly, God help us.

The top sides in Cyprus including his side larnaca are these days quite good teams, upper championship level. The Cypriot league these days is rated as equal to the Greek league albeit with far less teams. Put it this way his side are as good as PAOK who he used to play for, and better than his other Greek team (can't remember the name). Barring the peak of the golden gen I'd say this current crop are paying at the highest level than any of our previous generations of Socceroos as a collective. 

Yeh I am not saying they are not bad teams.

I know for a fact that they are far better than the HAL teams. The Cypriot First Division is quite cut throat and there is a lot of talent there.

We are delusional if we think that the HAL is at this level. I hear people comparing us to Holland, Austria or Switzerland. I don't think so.

Mabils performance v Jordan and his potential

Snowflake thread, there’s the positive.

The salary cap improves the standard, not the other way round as it allows all clubs to sign good players. Otherwise all of the best HAL players will be at 2-3 clubs and the rest will have crap players. It would result in current starting XI players not playing or on the bench while players who aren't good enough to start will be starting at the poorer clubs.

Also more Asian leagues are adding Salary caps so they are realising it has benefits. The Phillippines and now China have salary caps (China has a wage cap for domestic players as well) while Indonesia doesn't have a salary cap but has marquee players. 

I disagree with you in many aspects of your post. Every single team in the HAL is owned by a multi-millionaire and so this idea that all the best players will be at 2-3 clubs is an utter fallacy. It will be extremely competitive to sign the best Australian players and every club in the HAL will be able to afford their fair share of talent. The foreign players wont matter so much because it all depends on your scouting and your contacts overseas to know which players to go after. The players also have to weigh up their options as well because a club stacked with talent means you won't necessarily be guaranteed a start in every game. You also have to understand that it is also about managing your club and your budget. There comes a point when trying to get the best player in every position becomes futile and a big drain on resources especially when that might not be the best way to build your football club. In fact plenty of clubs in the past have gone down that route before and have come unstuck. 

Its funny that you mention China having a salary cap especially when they are one of the biggest spenders in the world transfer market. Way to go against your own argument. If you are advocating for Australia to have a similar salary cap where we are in the top 5 for spending on football players then I am all for it :D

If you want to use the Chinese salary cap as a measure, then yes, we can set the cap at the level that the CSL will set it... 

The Chinese Super League will have a salary cap from next season onward. I mentioned it to show that more leagues have salary caps, not because I want the HAL to have an $80 mil cap.

Is the Chinese salary cap about equalisation or about ensuring clubs stay solvent?

I’m bringing back this thread let’s talk about things in Australia football that is working for you.

who wants to start?

My club, after 4-5 years of appalling results is slowly but surely pulling itself out of the doldrums. To add to that there is a new found enthusiasm (with the hope of NSD) that the club's former greatness can be revived.... New markets/fans are being engaged with and we seem to be spoken of and mentioned both nationally and internationally (particularly Scotland of course) with a whole new level of respect..... is that the sort of thing you are looking for mate ? :)

Yes I love your passion for your club even though people wouldn’t agree with everything you say you’re right in saying people should check out their local club 

Mate, people should check out ANY club, whether its down the road, across the state or country or overseas. The heart wants what the heart wants... Its ALL football.

One thing I am POSITIVE about is that any kind of crazy, tribal, single minded passion for a football club is a good thing and can only lead to Australia being as mad about the sport as what we all envy from overseas. Enough of this old vs new football, eurosnobs vs plastics etc etc. The dear old duck in the canteen for the last 40 years at Upper Goondiwindee Rovers SC is just as valuable to Australian Soccer as Yoshi and the 18 year old, FIFA playing, FM nerd with the Harry Kane poster in his room :)

Congratulations that is a very positive post.Most of us here love football and should cherish the game ,its history and global significance.It is the game of the people and can be played anywhere-playgrounds,rubbish tips,against a brick wall,on a beach,etc

Cheers mate... I know Im a Hellas tragic but can't help it :)

The huge bonus would be the Roos qualifying doing the impossible - a boost football needs here like mad under the circumstances but alas no one is confident.
NSWPL going to 16 Club comps next season....hooray so where you finish this season is very important that your either gonna go up a level or stay where you are and welcome quite a few new Clubs.
Touch wood NSD starts up, that will be epic.
Current season way to go yet so nice to be busy amongst the local grounds barring recent rain washouts in Sydney.
Got my own games as well as getting to PL games be it top div down to 3's.
Great watching young skilled players putting their bodies on the line and competitive football.
Good making use more and more of games on NPL tv - spread over any division more and more.

Love it. Who are you supporting in the a league finals?

AU watching from the far sideline.........

Yes the mention of Volpato and McGree player wise is good to see and I hope they make it.
Ange winning is great re he's Aussie on peoples lips around EU.....

Nope, can't contribute here!

That's very positive -we don't have to hear from you on this thread.

Despite interruptions the A league season was able to be completed

Ange's success with Celtic

McGree doing well in the UK

Socceroos still have some hope to qualify  -so don't write them off yet

The emergence of all these African Australian kids over the last few years particularly at CCM and AU

Players like Daggers,Brimmer,Rowles ,Miller and Thurgate coming of age as A League players

Transfer fees at NPL level

This forum staying alive despite some long term posters going

CCM making finals two years running

Despite a rough road so far, IF Roos DO make Qatar it will be incredible- will remind me of 2005.

The emergence of G Kuol is exciting and when he gets consistent games under his belt next season he could develop into world class foward.
Same for Volpato.

great to see Daggers reach new high level. Folami showing signs of brilliance. Good to see Cummings scoring some very skillful goals and another striker option for Roos

Removing the cap on transfer fees would be the biggest positive. A decision with long-term thinking involved.

I'm positive that the APL don't really know what they're doing.   :D 

I'm positive we'll never see pro / rel in the A League in my lifetime.

I'm positive a NSD will be established in the far distant future. (10+ years.)

https://twitter.com/smfc/status/1527061354955149313?cxt=HHwWgsCgxcWNm7EqAAAA

Well don Ajden, A current Socceroo is aEuropean Chamion for the first time since Harry in 2005 ... thats a HUGE positive. (and he scored his penalty)