Lita 1 C@nt Hammond 0

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

I cannot see why anyone would think Lita would be offered a new deal after the way he was at the last two seasons at RFC.

[Ryn]

We're just miserable because we haven't actually got anyone that can score goals like that.

I actually thought Lita played well on Saturday, he was hanging back a lot in the space between Ivar and Karacan, no-one was marking him, he made a lot of runs into the box that weren't picked up. If he was a better striker he would have scored a hat-trick.

I was also impressed with the way that he conducted himself after he scored, considering his past record.

That said I can completely understand why he was let go/not offered a contract because he hadn't done a great deal for us recently.

Having him in the side now would not answer any of our problems.

[Arnie_Pie]

You appear to forget he was dogshit every time he played for us for 2 years. So he scored against us today. Not exactly set the world alight for M'boro either. He's got the same number of goals as Church or Hunt, in half as many appearances again.

Dogshit that scored 15 goals in our promotion season despite missing the last two months injured plus a great equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day that those of us there will never forget plus the winner against Boro in our first ever Prem match. I wish we had more dogshit like that now.

^^^ Agreed.

A little reminder of the flashes of brilliance -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 329430.ece

[CMRoyal]

I think we have to remind ourselves that Leroy has spent most of the season up to now on the bench at Boro. Of course he was going to start against us, and inevitably he made his way through our powder-puff midfield and leggy central defence to score. But three games from now he'll probably be back on the bench having not added to his tally. And do we seriously think that a moody, inconsistent Leroy would have helped our cause this year? Love the guy, Reading legend and all that, but he isn't a symbol of our decline. No more than he is part of its cause, anyway.

[ElmParker]

1. Great goal, but Lita was very rarely at his best in his last two years with us. Even if he'd wanted a new contract (which I've no idea), he hadn't earned one.

2. It’s a shame that we had to wait for Lita to be at a different team before he finally recognised that turning and running at defenders was what made him so dangerous rather than always backing in and looking for a cheap free kick.

3. His post-match interview was impressively dignified and graceful.

Fair play to him. I hope he does well with Boro.

[Alan Partridge]

Lita is the sort of lad that likes to be the main man, centre of attention. With all the players leaving as we had, he'd have been exactly that for us this season. Too late now, they released a 24 year old proven goalscorer. I'm sure Rodgers wouldn't have minded having him, and maybe he might have suited this style. Among Lita's goals in that spurt in the Premiership, quite a few of them were when he played on his own up top. He did at Chelsea, Utd and he started with Long at City but Long played wide.

Said at the time I felt they'd cocked up and that goal was absolutely top class, strength, pace and the finish was sublime. We have absolutely no one capable of doing that. He'll be in the Boro side now and I expect him to get 15 goals this season if he starts on a semi regularly basis.

[andrew1957]

We all know Lita is class when he tries but for whatever reason he stopped trying for us about 2 seasons ago.

As for a new contract whether or not he was offered one there was no chance of him ever signing a new one with us as he was undoubtedly primed by his agent to leave and negotiate a better one elsewhere. We had no choice but to let him go .

[sandman]

I think we have to remind ourselves that Leroy has spent most of the season up to now on the bench at Boro. Of course he was going to start against us, and inevitably he made his way through our powder-puff midfield and leggy central defence to score. But three games from now he'll probably be back on the bench having not added to his tally. And do we seriously think that a moody, inconsistent Leroy would have helped our cause this year? Love the guy, Reading legend and all that, but he isn't a symbol of our decline. No more than he is part of its cause, anyway.

Tbf the fact he joined them late in the last transfer window and therefore didn't have a pre-season probably has had a effect on his place in their team.

[CMRoyal]

I think we have to remind ourselves that Leroy has spent most of the season up to now on the bench at Boro. Of course he was going to start against us, and inevitably he made his way through our powder-puff midfield and leggy central defence to score. But three games from now he'll probably be back on the bench having not added to his tally. And do we seriously think that a moody, inconsistent Leroy would have helped our cause this year? Love the guy, Reading legend and all that, but he isn't a symbol of our decline. No more than he is part of its cause, anyway.

Tbf the fact he joined them late in the last transfer window and therefore didn't have a pre-season probably has had a effect on his place in their team.

Fair point. Don't get me wrong, I hope he kicks on. I wish all our ex-players well (well, maybe not Shoey or Stephen Hunt) but I remain to be convinced that Leroy will do so. Only time will tell of course.

[brendywendy]

LOL at the idea of evil hammond, deciding off his own back to release all our highly paid prem players, purely to oxf*rd us over

[Deadlock]

I have no idea

[REALROYAL]

You appear to forget he was dogshit every time he played for us for 2 years. So he scored against us today. Not exactly set the world alight for M'boro either. He's got the same number of goals as Church or Hunt, in half as many appearances again.

Dogshit that scored 15 goals in our promotion season despite missing the last two months injured plus a great equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day that those of us there will never forget plus the winner against Boro in our first ever Prem match. I wish we had more dogshit like that now.

You are spot on about the goal at Stamford Bridge, classic away day that was.. LEROY - LEROY - LEROY

[readingbedding]

And City away, I can't think of a single player we have that could do what he did that day.
Sorry to say.

[brendywendy]

And City away, I can't think of a single player we have that could do what he did that day.
Sorry to say.

had the sevrice he needed that day

one great through ball from sidders, one great through ball from harps

[Northern Git]

From the Times report above

"Both goals — blistering finishes from searing counter-attacks — offered further proof that, with the obvious exceptions of Arsenal and Manchester United, Reading are playing probably the best football in the Premiership at the moment, while their utter fearlessness is embodied by the rampaging Lita."

Just makes you realise how far and fast we have fallen. Still never mind, brick by brick, balance the books etc..................

[readingbedding]

From the Times report above

"Both goals — blistering finishes from searing counter-attacks — offered further proof that, with the obvious exceptions of Arsenal and Manchester United, Reading are playing probably the best football in the Premiership at the moment, while their utter fearlessness is embodied by the rampaging Lita."

Just makes you realise how far and fast we have fallen. Still never mind, brick by brick, balance the books etc..................

And yes, we were that good and a good few of us was there week in week out.
Spent 1000's that season.
No point moaning about it, but I'm pleased I was able to drop everything and devote all my time to the Club back then.

Things have changed somewhat.
Oh well.

[ankeny]

We all know Lita is class when he tries but for whatever reason he stopped trying for us about 2 seasons ago.

As for a new contract whether or not he was offered one there was no chance of him ever signing a new one with us as he was undoubtedly primed by his agent to leave and negotiate a better one elsewhere. We had no choice but to let him go .

This is rubbish,because of his little eh um,mishaps,Coppell got a bee in his bonnet and wouldn't play him and then farmed him out.Lita likes to be loved but he wasn't.It was sheer folly to get rid of him,hes tons better then the clowns we got now.Dont tell me about the money we had to save,false economy,we are going to lose a whole lot more when we are relegated,which we are going to be under this buffoon.

[brendywendy]

rubbish- coppell gave him long runs in the team after everyone of his....mishaps
was feck all to do with it
he just played shit for 2 years

now hes gone elsewhere its changed his outlook and hes playing better
it happens all th etime

[rabidbee]

Not in the summer, no, but he was offered a renewal around last Jan - we never do renewals when they run out, we always do them 6 months or so in advance.

But never forget that we were doing pretty well in January last year before Lita came back from loan and completely soured everything in the dressing room. The rest is history....

Didn't Boris re-sign in the summer?

[ankeny]

rubbish- coppell gave him long runs in the team after everyone of his....mishaps
was feck all to do with it
he just played shit for 2 years

now hes gone elsewhere its changed his outlook and hes playing better
it happens all th etime

[b][/b Oh yeah,so you think Hunt,Long,Rasiack or Howard is better then Lita?