Published: Tuesday, 11th March, 2008 09:29
Lita lashes out at Coppell
By Anthony Smith
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LEROY Lita has taken a swipe at Royals manager Steve Coppell following his loan move to Championship side Charlton.
Lita believes he has not been given the same opportunities as other strikers at the club.
The ex-England Under 21 star has now teamed up with former Reading boss Alan Pardew at the Valley until the end of March.
The 23-year-old could make his Addicks debut at home to Preston North End this Saturday as they continue their push for promotion.
Coppell believes Lita’s loan will keep him sharp when he returns to the Madejski Stadium for the last six Premier League games.
But Lita feels he has not been given enough time by Coppell - despite the fact he is yet to score in 11 league appearances this term.
“Yeah, definitely,” he declared. “There have been opportunities for me to come back in.
“The gaffer said he would make changes last week and I expected to be involved at Middlesbrough. But once again he pulled me and said I would not be involved.
“Basically, he made it clear he wanted me to move.”
Lita also believes he has been unfairly criticised by Coppell in the past.
He stated: “He came out last week saying `Leroy is not the answer.’ He singled me out and that was a bit harsh.
“He has criticised me all season. I have seen little bits of his comments and it shows he does not see me as an option for him.
“There is no point me sitting at home watching TV. I want to go out on loan and play some football.
“It got too much to be honest. I like playing football and I have missed a lot this season.
“It is frustrating and it has been the most frustrating season of my career so far.”
Lita is now eager to put his troubles behind him and concentrate on re-discovering his form.
“Good players have to deal with these kind of situations,” he stressed. I have got on with my business and kept quiet.
“The gaffer hasn’t put me back in and that is fair enough, I asked him on Monday if could go out on loan and he came to me on Tuesday with Charlton. I said if I was not available to him I wanted to go and play football.”
Lita’s last goals in the Premier League came in a 2-0 win at Manchester City in February 2007.
But he argued: “He (Coppell) has thrown me in for a couple of games and taken me out again which is a bit harsh.
“Sometimes it takes a bit longer than that, other players have had that opportunity but I haven’t.
“I am not going to point the finger but, as I said, I deal with it. I don’t like
to talk, I just like to get on with my business.
“Everyone who knows me knows I am a serious guy. I love my football and I just want to get on with it.”
Lita joins Royals team-mate Sam Sodje who is on loan at Chalrton for the rest of the season.
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