A lot of positives - Rosler on York
leedsunited.com 15/7/15
Uwe Rosler was keen to focus on "the positive things" following Wednesday's 1-1 pre-season draw at York City, saying his side were "far more competitive" than Friday's opening fixture against Harrogate.
With little between the two teams during the opening stages at Bootham Crescent, Rosler’s men broke the deadlock on 35 minutes as Sam Byram met Alex Mowatt’s back-post cross to power a header home from close-range.
United looked to be good value for the lead, with goalkeeper Michael Ingham keeping the hosts in the game with a number of fine second-half saves, but York struck 10 minutes from time to level the contest with a tap-in from Marvin McCoy.
“There was a lot of good stuff,” said Rosler. “The goal against us was unnecessary but we are focusing on the positive things.
“The way we pressed was far more competitive today than it was against Harrogate – it was a proper football match.
“We met good opponents and – especially in the first half – we were against a lot of height.
“We had to cope with starting from the keeper to the back four – we had a much higher line.
“It was much more competitive, we were braver in our defending. In midfield we passed the ball very well occasionally.
“At times we lost a little bit of shape when we were attacking because our energy and enthusiasm took us into areas where we exposed ourselves a little bit in the middle.
“Up front, I was happy with the amount of chances we created. Overall, we should have won the game – there were a lot of positives.
“The thing to learn from it is that when we’re getting tired, we have to keep it simple – we were getting tired but when it’s the first 90 minutes, it’s understandable.
“Sometimes we tried to complicate things and that cost us.”
Rosler was dealt an injury blow shortly before kick-off as striker Chris Wood picked up a knock during the warm-up, but the head coach insists the move to replace him with Steve Morison was only precautionary.
“He’s not injured,” Rosler explained. “It was irritating for us – he felt something in his hamstring.
“The hamstring is fine, it’s at full power – but he felt something and we didn’t want to take any chances.
“It’s a little bit irritating because we want to get up to speed.”
The game saw a first appearance in a Leeds shirt for new goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, and Rosler said: I think he did very well.
“It was a solid, experienced performance from him and that is exactly what we need.
“Marco Silvestri did very well last season and got stronger and stronger throughout the year and has done in pre-season.
“Marco will start as the number one and then he obviously has to keep the shirt – that comes through good performances.
Uwe Rosler was keen to focus on "the positive things" following Wednesday's 1-1 pre-season draw at York City, saying his side were "far more competitive" than Friday's opening fixture against Harrogate.
With little between the two teams during the opening stages at Bootham Crescent, Rosler’s men broke the deadlock on 35 minutes as Sam Byram met Alex Mowatt’s back-post cross to power a header home from close-range.
United looked to be good value for the lead, with goalkeeper Michael Ingham keeping the hosts in the game with a number of fine second-half saves, but York struck 10 minutes from time to level the contest with a tap-in from Marvin McCoy.
“There was a lot of good stuff,” said Rosler. “The goal against us was unnecessary but we are focusing on the positive things.
“The way we pressed was far more competitive today than it was against Harrogate – it was a proper football match.
“We met good opponents and – especially in the first half – we were against a lot of height.
“We had to cope with starting from the keeper to the back four – we had a much higher line.
“It was much more competitive, we were braver in our defending. In midfield we passed the ball very well occasionally.
“At times we lost a little bit of shape when we were attacking because our energy and enthusiasm took us into areas where we exposed ourselves a little bit in the middle.
“Up front, I was happy with the amount of chances we created. Overall, we should have won the game – there were a lot of positives.
“The thing to learn from it is that when we’re getting tired, we have to keep it simple – we were getting tired but when it’s the first 90 minutes, it’s understandable.
“Sometimes we tried to complicate things and that cost us.”
Rosler was dealt an injury blow shortly before kick-off as striker Chris Wood picked up a knock during the warm-up, but the head coach insists the move to replace him with Steve Morison was only precautionary.
“He’s not injured,” Rosler explained. “It was irritating for us – he felt something in his hamstring.
“The hamstring is fine, it’s at full power – but he felt something and we didn’t want to take any chances.
“It’s a little bit irritating because we want to get up to speed.”
The game saw a first appearance in a Leeds shirt for new goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, and Rosler said: I think he did very well.
“It was a solid, experienced performance from him and that is exactly what we need.
“Marco Silvestri did very well last season and got stronger and stronger throughout the year and has done in pre-season.
“Marco will start as the number one and then he obviously has to keep the shirt – that comes through good performances.