Reading FC

Federici wishes Lita had never left Reading FC

By Jonny Fordham
October 06, 2009

Adam Federici wishes Leroy Lita never left Reading after his good mate scored against him in a dominating performance on his return to Madejski Stadium.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper was beaten in each half and Lita claims he got the final touch of the first goal on 12 minutes following Adam Johnson’s corner, with the goal initially credited to Sean St Ledger.

But Royals' former £1million man made sure of Boro’s second showing great strength and skill to break the challenge of Jem Karacan and Darren O’Dea in the centre circle before sprinting towards Federici's goal and coolly smashing the ball into the bottom right corner of his net on 55 minutes.

The 24-year-old striker also showed another touch of class by apologising to the Reading fans whom he always had a great relationship with during his four years at the club.

And Federici admitted it was the quality up front that Royals were beaten by last weekend.

“Leroy’s a fantastic striker and he’ll be happy he got two against us,” said the Australian international.

“He’s a close mate of mine so I was disappointed when he left. Leroy’s a good lad and good to have around the place, we’ve had lots of good strikers at the club and still do, we’ve just got to give the boys up front a bit more time.

“I just didn’t want him getting a hat-trick to be honest, I’m not sure if the first one was definitely given to him, but it definitely came off his back.

“That’s why he ran off and celebrated, but Boro were just quality up front with their movement, they've obviously got Premier League strikers and that was the difference.

“We’ve just got to keep going, keep our heads up and try and pick up some more points.”

Brendan Rodgers’ side have had a frustrating time in front of goal and have failed to score in six of their 11 league games and this season.

And some loyal Royals are starting to get disillusioned with the start that Reading have made under Rodgers as their team have now gone six games at Madejski Stadium without a league win, extending their winless streak in the leagueat Madejski Stadium to a woeful 15 games, stretching back to January 27 under Steve Coppell.

And Federici admitted: “Once we get a goal behind the crowd gets a bit anxious, but that’s fair enough and I would be the same way if I was sitting and watching.

“We should have bought the confidence from the great win at Preston into the game, but unfortunately we didn’t and Middlesbrough took full advantage.

“Obviously the crowd have every right to boo. We’ve been poor and they pay their money to come and watch us.

“They’re obviously frustrated and we need to step it up. But we’re frustrated as well and we’re trying to put things right.

“Unfortunately, the next game is two weeks away so we have a lot of time to think about this and look forward to West Brom away after the break (on Saturday, October 17).”

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Knowone said he was a rfc legend from what i can see, just that he is a better player than the last 12 months of his rfc career suggests and that him a SC didn't see eye to eye

FRED BAINES
7/10/2009 at 13:35

h8s-Rfc-Moaners comments typify the happy-clappy we love Lita brigade.

He spent long periods out of the team, he went on loan and then left on a free, this perhaps suggests he's not quite the RFC legend he's being made out to be.

The fans chanting his name when he scored against us was very much a low point in a season of low points.

Megaman
7/10/2009 at 10:51

The memories I have of Gilkesy absolutely blazing down the touchline in front of an crazed Southbank time after time in the second half of games will stay with me forever I think.........and now...... we have Kebe......

Big P, Reading
7/10/2009 at 09:16

I remember when Gilkesy got the ball on the left everybody sat on the edge of there seats!!

Would have liked to have seen more of Lita, but it wasn't to be, it's in the past and I've moved on. Anyways I wanna see the youngsters given a good chance to prove the doubters wrong and if they don't we know what happens.

Any news on why Mattie (our most creative player) isn't playing is it a Buck/Mattie thing or a Coppell/Lita thing?

Jimmy Quinn's Underpants, Newbury
7/10/2009 at 08:56

The chances of staying up with that joker in charge are the same as my prophecy in August - Nil, zero, zilch, none. Just wait and see.

Big P, Reading
7/10/2009 at 08:50

the thing that coppell and all the moaners forget is - when the team have lost the crowd and you need someone to get them back on side - leroy comes off the bench and suddenly the stands have an air of positivity as if something could happen, the opposition are also looking to change to counter act him therefore changing a game. - ok sometimes it didn't work, but you always felt there was a chance. alternatively - up jumps long at about the hour mark and you hear a massive sigh of oh no! - opposition bench jump up cheering how coppell put long before lita i will never know,he would not be in my team if we were league 2. leroy son, you can still **** my wife!!!!

ajr111, swindon
7/10/2009 at 01:32

Getting nearer to xmas now, how do you lot feel about there chances of staying up in the championship now?

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
6/10/2009 at 21:47

Tend to agree with Megaman (sorry folks). I never really rated Lita, I accept he was a goal scorer, but only when he was focussed, I think for the latter part of his career with us, he just lost that bit of direction. We really should have sold him to Sheff Utd when we had the chance, but I think Coppell was hoping he'd come good for us again.

Abu Dhabi Dave, Reading
6/10/2009 at 20:34

Megaman go support oxford or swindon...the only thing pathetic is your support for Reading soo run along ....

h8s-Rfc-Moaners, Reading
6/10/2009 at 17:39

Pg tips

unfortunatley i wasn't around when robin friday was and didn't have the pleasure of watching him, so i'm only going on what i've seen over the last 20 odd years, but according to my old man who saw him, he was the best player to ever put on a reading shirt... the word legend gets banded about quite freely these days but from what i hear of him he was one, just a shame i never got to see him..

FRED BAINES
6/10/2009 at 16:03

AJR111,

That answers my question! I wondered why he turned down Sheff Utd, what you say makes sense --- having a moment !

Robsy , Reading
6/10/2009 at 15:56

hi fred i like your comments .. but one of the best finishers reading ever had was Robbin Friday great player

pg tips , alicante spain
6/10/2009 at 15:50

Fair point about him deciding to run down his contract and like you say who can blame him after the way he was treated..

FRED BAINES
6/10/2009 at 15:44

If Leroy Lita played like he did on Saturday for us over the last few years then he'd be a top top striker. IMO he was too inconsistant and I know that SC and Leets weren't he best of friends so that probably had a negative affect on him.

I must admit though he was definatly milking that celebration LOL.. Fair play Leroy all the best!!

Dazza1871
6/10/2009 at 15:42

megaman - your wrong, if your boss so clearly kept putting you down and showing that he thought you were rubbish at your job, you would become disillusioned and not perform at your best. fred baines - your dead right coppell didn't like him as a person therefore treated him poorly. when at norwich didn't have a problem scoring, and also at bristol he banged in goals. On the other point leroy decided to stay and run down his contract so he could command a higher wage as there was no fee, hence he turned down sheffield utd at x.mas,and who can blame him.