Ayatollah Hermione

This man is spitting game on a level we can't comprehend.

Has anybody come up with a decent explanation for Japan yet? Flanagan's baps are truly stunning. They deserve a ten gun salute

Demo out today and playing it now on 360. So far, everything has a bit more weight to it, the ball is less precise when you're sprinting with it at your feet and there seems to be more of an emphasis on strength rather than pace this time out. But, the opposition AI is a ton better, even on Professional, shooting feels great from outside the box but passing seems a bit iffy (I know, what a shock). As always, once you've fiddled with the sliders, single player will be fine but I'm very tempted to play a lot of Pro Clubs.

Damn, the bedfellows I'll have to make. I know you have influential friends and the Eurovision lot are a loud, fanatical bunch and I can't wait to network my brand with you all.

Meenz, if I send you our EP, will you use your contacts to spread it through the middle class suburbia of London? Don't let Fish listen to it though.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/so-whats-good-26-current-tv-series-worth-bingewatc,102266/ This could be a good reference point for you.

Have you got round to that London Grammar album yet, Chez? It's a brilliant midnight album though a little bit samey on first listen but it's the sort of album that invites repeated listens so the songs begin to establish themselves. Had a lot of Fat Freddy's Drop on to recently and I think they're a band who a lot of the current UK lot are aping. All of this without drugs too

It's good too. The second half is a bit lackluster compared to the first IMO but that might change with repeat listens. But, what a first half. This seems to be the mixtapes blown up to a ridiculous size and trades the seedier bits of these for a bit more pomp. The effort with Drake is the worst offender by far, the rest is fine but lacking something that made House of Balloons so good.

Aye, I thought you meant "has it finished as of last night?"

eh?

They usually want my double-barreled yoghurt cannon

It's amazing how just as I think I know how this is going to end, it completely shifts on me. Those last twenty minutes were tremendous television.

Of course you do.

Mackems, man. It's a different world, as Stevie would say.

Since Gemmill isn't here right now: Jules

Glad Hardcore History is getting some love around here. Perfect hangover listening. I'm catching on the Giant Bombcast from the past couple of months and if you're into the video games, and even if you're not tbh, those are some funny, funny men.

Rachel Riley, my word. Two from the top, one from the bottom and a taxi home.

I've always thought his posts in the cooking thread were a cry for help tbh

This is an AUSTRALIAN saying this btw

It's fucking amazing btw. Empirical proof that a band doesn't need "hits" to be great.

1. Fucking hell, how long have you got? My opinion (and this is backed up by NE journos) is that Ashley wanted a Director of Football to act as a go-between between the chief scout, Graham Carr and Pardew which, IMO, is a perfectly fine position to fill. The issue lies in the fact that Joe Kinnear was not that man. There's a conspiracy theory that Ashley had no intention to buy any players anyway as he'd spent £20 million in January so Kinnear was a perfect choice in the sense that he'd fail to get any sort of deal over the line but I believe it's just another notch in the bedpost of incompetence that is Mike Ashley's NUFC. 2. We needed another striker and another right back, without doubt. Remy is a talented player, no doubt but had he not been available for loan, we'd have never signed him. Losing Perch isn't too much of a loss as young players like Bigirimana and Vuckic should be getting more game time anyway but he was versatile and solid and that's something we've lost and haven't recovered. If we suffer a similar injury crisis to last year, we're in serious shit. 3. Not capitalising on the momentum we had in the summer was the major factor IMO. We needed to really pack the squad with solid hands for Europe as well as improving on the likes of Danny Simpson. Instead, we only signed a (very decent tbf) central midfielder in Anita and things stagnated. As injuries piled up and results worsened, Pardew felt the pressure and resorted to long ball tactics and was far too cautious at home and it never really abated, even when the January signings came in. He went from using every member of the squad perfectly to completely wasting them in favour of his ineffective tactics. Thus far, not a lot seems to have changed but the last 30 minutes at Fulham seen us attack with pace, move it along the floor quickly and look dangerous. I'm cautiously optimistic that Pardew will see sense if we have a good run of games. 4. Being Newcastle, we'll get stupid injuries so we'll finish top of the bottom half. If the first XI (plus three game changing subs) stays fit and Pardew plays to their strengths, rather than forcing his long ball bullshit on them, there's no reason we can't finish Top 8. Though, I think top 8 is about the best we can hope for. 5. I like it. It's a transfer model rarely seen in England but if Lambert proves to be a tremendous eye for young talent, it'll pay off for you. I like his process of moving on the likes of Ireland, Bent etc. and really paving the way for others to make an impression and stake a claim in the side. I'm not too sure on who you've signed but I'm certain you'll have a solid season. 6. I really rate him but contracts mean next to nothing in this world. Another good season and he'll be away. At least if he goes for £15 million or so, you have a set-up that will reinvest. We're not so lucky. 7. Despite our standing in the game being embarrassing in the relegation season, I thought your banners and general carry-on on the day we went down, was even more so. As far as I'm concerned, our revenge came in the 6-0 when we came back up. Now, I'm not really bothered in the slightest. 8. Anywhere in that no man's land between 9th and 16th 9. If I was Mike Ashley, I'd sign Shay Given to sell some shirts but on a football level, I like Weimann. 10. 1. Chelsea 2. Man United 3. Arsenal 4. Man City 18. Cardiff 19. Palace 20. Hull 11. A hard fought but well earned 1-1 away draw for us. We'll score first with Cisse.

I agree with this btw. First half last season, we were tremendous with Sissoko driving us on but second half, we had to weather one of the best attacking storms we'd seen all season. When on form, Lambert's Villa can do some serious damage. I'm hoping we see the back line of Debuchy - Yanga-Mbwia - Colo - Santon begin to grow here as I think it's the line-up we should have for the rest of the season.

He'd get a raise here.

Think it's Mac-Toon's or he knas the kid with it. @2NarMe on Twitter

Go to Northumbria Uni auctions. I'm not taking the piss either with that; when the sports students finish and go back, if they leave their bikes etc. behind, you can get them for cheap.