Leeds-bound Jordan Botaka “The Wizard“
Leeds United have pursued the signature of Fernando Forestieri from Watford these last few days, showing that they rated the player, conducting themselves with respect – and a fair, businesslike attitude towards a significant move in the transfer market. Forestieri did not reciprocate the respect, and his attitude too was found wanting.
It was apparent days before United abandoned their attempts to sign him that Watford’s surplus striker would have had a mountain to climb gaining the approval of Leeds followers. Quite rightly, those passionate and loyal fans expect some eagerness to be shown by potential incoming players, an evident desire to pull on the white shirt. Forestieri showed none of this, and had alienated the Leeds support well before he dropped off United’s radar. Doubtless he will be more suited to the less demanding environment at Hillsborough, where innocently delighted Wendies will ask nothing more of him than that he should choose S6 over LS11.
In the end, Leeds acted decisively, ending their interest in Forestieri and, it seems, making a successful bid for Jordan Botaka, currently of Excelsior in the Dutch Eredivisie. Botaka, 22, known as “The Wizard” for his pace and trickery on the wing, is a full international for Congo and is highly regarded as a player of great skill and enormous potential.
Just as importantly for Whites fans, he has shown the desire that we should expect of a player who wants to come to Leeds and make a real impression. The player describes his impending move to Elland Road as “not a hard decision”. That alone makes him infinitely preferable to the reluctant Forestieri, and it may well be that Leeds have dodged a bullet in avoiding what could well have been a negative element in the squad.
Good luck to Forestieri at the Wendies. On yesterday’s evidence with their limp surrender at home to Middlesbrough, he will probably need it, but at least he’s found himself another comfy, Watford-sized club. Botaka, meanwhile, has shown far more confidence and ambition, for which we roundly applaud him.
It appears also that Leeds might be buying wingers in bulk, with an English-based player also tipped to sign before the window closes. Wolves’ Rajiv van La Parra has been strongly linked, but may prove not be that man. Don’t rule out a loanee central defender either, with Leicester’s Liam Moore consistently talked up as a target. These are busy and exciting times at Elland Road.
Welcome to Leeds United, Jordan. Barring any last-minute hitches, you will be joining a club where you can make yourself a legend and become a star with a global fanbase.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
Oh what a lovely change after more than 10 years of second rate loanees and feebees looking to see out their pensions. Now we are in the market for proper players and being picky about them wanting to be at ER. Moreover, IMO yesterday was the best performance I have seen for many a year, two great new strips and Hart returning. Things are starting to look really good at LS11.
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Wages seem to have been the stumbling block with Fernando Forestieri.
We don’t need him Rob.
Wednesday are splashing the cash, and many clubs are in our league.
Uwe deserves a lot of credit in pinpointing quality players.
Anyway Forestieri is too old for our team!! LOL
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I’ve watched some video clips of this guy and he looks the real deal! I’m really excited about this move. Along with Wood, Dallas, Erwin etc we’ve made some great signings, and appear to have learned our lessons from past mistakes. When the team have had time to really ‘gel’ then we’ll see massive strides I think. At the moment they’re developing as a team and getting better week by week. Optimistic about the future, what more can I say! MOT.
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You’ve hit the nail on head in your article. We want players who are fully committed to the club. Rosler is building a resiliant team who will support each other with a never say die attitude. Dare I say things are looking very promising.
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Absolutely rob ,, who wants a player that doesn’t want to come in the first place ,, as geographically there’s little in it between Leeds and Sheffield I can only assume forestieri had issues with cellino or maybe like you say he couldn’t handle the pressure , either way it’s 100% or nothing at Leeds so good riddance Mr forestieri
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The typical arrogance of a Leeds supporter, He didn’t want to go to your club, he was never going to you. Get over it, you are not a big pull, seeing your recent track record you will only attract 2nd rate foreigners who have never heard of you
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Oops. Hit a nerve there 😎
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Haha! “Never heard of you.” Are you serious Wendie?
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He would have come to Leeds Theresa, but we were not able/willing to match his wage demands.
It was always about the money!!!
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Recent track record——said the wendie lol
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If you seriously think he prefered Wendies over Leeds, then you are deluded! He came for the money and nowt else. The problem with mercenaries is a lack of ambition, loyalty and application.
If he comes good, he’s off. If not you’re saddled with an unmotivated and disloyal player.
Thanks for helping to show his true colours.
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Hey Rob ,, bit slow but I’ve just noticed how many hits the site has had ,, (is that with or without the hate mail ?)
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Ha – the comments are separate, but the hits include all those who visit and simply hate the place. So the haters play their unwilling part in the blog’s success 😈
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Welcome back Rob, we need your insight more frequently !
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Thanks, me old china 😊👍
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Nice piece again Rob.Forestieri obviously lyng through his teeth regarding going north ( Allegedly),contrasting massively with Botaka who must know the prestige of coming to Leeds.We are on the edge of big things here,I know it.So do the players,management,staff and supporters.
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It does feel that way. I feel the restraining influence of Pearson on Cellino cannot be overestimated and has been the crucial difference. It seems a happier ship. Perhaps even Cellino, Mr Hands On himself, is happier with a pro calling the shots. On a cautionary note, though – we just never know what’s round the corner at Leeds United!
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Well said Rob. Am I just paranoid or were we given the deliberate snub last night on Channel 5 Football League? Not even a word from Rosler considering we had just stuffed one of the leagues favourites.I just hope when we are again back in the elite that we make the blatantly biased media choke and watch them squirm having to give us just a bit of credit. Fabulous day for the city, fabulous day for the fans and long may it flourish.
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I just can’t watch that Channel 5 shite. It lost me after 2 minutes of the first edition.
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Can’t agree more. I gave up on it too and now rely on Sky’s Goals Today programme. If only they would concentrate on one League at a time!
Come back Manish and Clarridge!
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Jordan Botaka? Go’s like the clappers. Forestieri? Ambitionless fairy. Childish but satisfying.
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Indeed 😊
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brilliantly said..can’t add More to what you’ve covered, Rob
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Cheers mate 👍
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I can only assume we didnt offer that pussy from Watford enough money.earlier reports suggested he wanted to stay in the south,so dont understand the decision to play for the smaller club in Sheffield.Wat a knob.
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Fair comment!
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Brill article :))
Forestieri… Great player and a positive signing for wendies, cant argue with that I guess. However, and this is not baiting the precious wendies fans on here, but I cant see for the life of me why he would pick sheffields second club to leeds unless of course it was for an outrageous wage…. With what theyre bidding for mccorshit I do hope they dont fall foul of financial fair play rules, I really do.
When the chips are down they have a good player with a lust for money making in the short term, juries out on whether he has the same lust for bettering himself.
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Good article Rob.
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So glad we didn’t waste money on Forestieri and im not just saying that because he has gone to Wednesday. I think we have made some marvellous signings of late but this would have been a ‘wrong un’ Also glad we didn’t end up with that French bloke, whats his name? Joey something or other…..
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Good article it’s great to be competing again but I ‘m starting to develop a sense of hope and optimism that we can do more than that! We need patience, the kids have not made their last bad decision on the football field no one can say that anyway but these guys are going to need time. Let’s hope Uwe also gets the required time to take our club forward, I think we are lucky to have him, as Water Melons go MC has finally tripped up over a ripe one. MOT
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Agree about the C5 snub – all talk was about how ‘Clement’ would ‘get it right’ and how Leeds ‘road their luck’ – really, Wood buries his header and we’re out of sight. Even Clement, to his credit, said that derby only had 20 mins of pressure. Who the fuck is Adam Virgo anyway ? John Virgo would be more knowledgable. Dreadful, dreadful programme. As for Forestieri, we’ve had our fill of mercenaries – chances are he’ll be waking up with a horse’s head in his bed next week. MOT
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And to cap off a near perfect weekend, Scumchester got beat by Swansea, does it get any better?
MOT bring on Brentford.
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Article coming up about that 🙂
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I was made redundant in 2012. I was eager to get back into work as quickly as possible so considered all offers/options. Through a family link I got a chance to go speak to the bosses at a textile firm in dog botherer land (I have an electronics background) I went for a look round but from the outset I didn’t really want the job it was out of my comfort zone but thought, well if the money is good enough I would take it on, at least for a while until something more suitable came up. Needless to say my attitude and indifference to the job was blindingly obvious to the powers that be and I didn’t get the job. The comparisons are scarily similar to forestieri!! That company didn’t need me and my attitude and we don’t need him or his!! MOT
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Commendably frank, and a good analogy.
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I’m still chuckling at the piece about Scott Carson. Has he moved yet?
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There’s a rumour that he has blinked, once, late last night. No further activity reported, though…
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Who was the wallet on channel 5 who thought we rode our luck after the merge clip shown on this merge show of smiling ginnies WTF why can’t the haters just accept we won well …. No mention of our first half dominance …… Sky for once actually acknowledged it but again full of glee at the sheep actually turning up for 25 minutes Begerie was a true gent though he saw the wood through the trees ha !
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Channel 5 football coverage – it’s car crash TV
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