Alex

I think the first thing Hugo Blick was involved with was the hilarious (and now largely forgotten) Operation Good Guys

I always think Springsteen comes across as a good bloke but I’m not really into his music. I don’t dislike or have strong feelings about it in general. But I absolutely love that album. I think it was just demo tapes he did ahead of recording an album with the E Street Band and they convinced him to release it as was when they heard it.

You’ve got to feel for Alex Hurst though. He’d bargained on being an influencer who was given the inside track and delivering smugness about the behemoth that is Newcastle United. And now Staveley has fucked off and his rail tickets aren’t just standard class, he has to buy them too. And he’s just found out someone lied to him when they said the DLT look was cool. That’s before even mentioning spaniel chebs

Just gave me a flashback of works nights out and the even stodgier beige all you can eat delights on offer at Big Luke’s

You’re right, it was there

That would’ve sufficed

I’d completely forgotten about that. Wasn’t the main attraction its ’all you can eat’ buffet? I went a few times like. Stodge-tastic. It was near the Northumbria University wasn’t it? City Road?

There was a short-lived Chicago Pizza place in Newcastle (Malnati’s) opposite the central station. This was back in the early 80s I think. I remember going a few times with my mam and dad and the place having loads of American tin signs like you get in 50s-style diners. Which was very exotic for Newcastle back then They failed to break into the UK market but I think they’re still around, mainly in Illinois. There’s probably a good reason why that particular style of pizza isn’t particularly popular

Is the connection here that Captain Willard also needed a lift?

I quite enjoyed Inverting the Pyramid. But it’s canny dry, to say the least and he does come across as a very dull fella in general.

Wanting him to do well would be weird however

CT loves a right winger

I don’t think it would be that problematic but for the Ofgem announcement / 9% rise in the cap. I’m not sure of the mechanics for setting the cap but Ofgem are an NDPB. It’s a terrible look for the new government apart from the obvious financial strain it’ll cause to the least well off

Another nadir in their tawdry list of ridiculously shite fantasies

I’ve heard of that but again not up here. A midlands thing maybe?

U ok, hun?

Yep. Always was and is ‘batter’ up here as far as I know

Yeah, he worked for the club for a while.

He was a very lucky lad anyway. I can’t comment too much on the One Show, as Alex Jones can’t even make that watchable. But his insipid punditry mirrored his heart the size of a pea playing career, where he also robbed a living

Yeah. That’s where he gets it from

He’s a proper fucking Eeyore. If journalists are getting transfer info from the club you suspect he isn’t one of them

I think they’ve just changed that. I’m sure when I checked it was 2025 (and highlighted in red)

It’s particularly funny with the likes of him, Keith and nutters like Exile who seem to think lying about the Saudis and revealing their prejudices represents some moral stance they’ve taken.

Apart from all the bitterness and obsession Roker Mackem is just an overt racist