NJS

Another plot setup ep this week which I enjoyed - hopefully full on from now to the end. I always seem to forget what an excellent character Ollena is - she certainly has Cersei nailed. Liked the kid who runs the Lindisfarne rip-off.

I finished Hannibal last week which I really enjoyed - it got a bit weird as it went on but still hit the mark for what I was looking for. I've tried Daredevil but 2 eps in I've had enough - not enough imagination and I don't like his sidekick lawyer so I think I'll stop there. After Hannibal I think I've been inspired by Ms Anderson so will switch to the recent X-Files and The Fall.

My base instinct has always been to see the UK as part of something large enough to compete with China, India, the US and any other emerging mass entity. A little UK outside of that mass will be stomped on imo.

Just watching the end of Beverly Hills Cop for no reason and I'd completely forgot that Mike out for Breaking Bad was the main heavy.

Shades of Keegan/Shola here which is a good sign. As others have said his heart was in the right place and he served us well at times but right decision now for everyone.

Ah, my mistake, our record defeat is 9-0 against Burton Wanderers in 1895 - that's what I was thinking of.

Weren't they our rivals for promotion in 65? Or there was a cup tie around then? Stattos aside, I'd guess only Noelie or Rob W would remember.

I know it's a semi-decent jibe to call us a second division club and embrace the now but I was thinking it's ironic for Mackems especially to do this as they're big fans of the "big club due to history" argument which is actually something I agree with. I have no qualms with calling Stoke, Watford and a few more nobodies and the idea that a snapshot of status in 2016 makes them bigger clubs than us, Villa, Forest and others is ridiculous.

They seemed to be suggesting Arya felt a bit of sympathy for real Cersei because of the play over her sons death - though maybe she was just channeling herself when she said she'd be more angry than sad. I think the notion of a people's based movement in a world of kings is interesting. It's a shame it has to be religion based to fit the context of the times and to make sense for a king to embrace it.

I love this second division club jibe - obviously from cunts not alive in 87/88.

Watched the last episode of 11.22.63 - proving once again that Stephen King is a bloody great storyteller who can't write a decent ending to save his life.

Latest episode was quite interesting without that much action - more setup for the rest of the series I'd guess. I hope Arya heads back home now to do some damage.

Without us the Mackem radar has been switched off and unplugged.

I've seen them three times on very "Welsh" occasions as any big gig with a proud band is bound to become and even being English I've enjoyed experiencing what I would call a good version of nationalism - I thought the euro song was a highlight though including Gary Speed certainly helped as well.

They've done a few of these full album/hits things now and they work very well as I think the albums suit run throughs and it also allows a bit of flexibility in the hits part.

At the liberty for the Manics at the moment - Super Furry Animals just finishing - mildly entertaining.

Went in 99 when we played there. Probably changed a bit but had a great time - cheap and a bit edgy.

I know this is going to make sound like a bitter, obsessed mag of cliche but I still think one of the funniest things I've ever seen was when Cram was a guest on the TV coverage for the league cup final in 85 and was quite ebullient before and at half time but at full time after they'd lost he just sat there looking like a twat and they didn't even speak to him again.

There's a lad on skunkers who has the pre/post sky figures which show our increase as 93% and there's as 116%. Going back to what I said earlier about them being County Durham's team they count people from outside Sunderland who "chose" us when football became popular as keegan band wagon jumpers but anyone who chose them was obviously a "natural" MLF.

Canny insult to Burton from a fan of a club that's played in the third tier in my lifetime within the last 30 years - something we've never done of course.

I read "inside this beautiful body" as a compliment to the new lass until I recognised the level of his narcissism.

The point HF is making about hope and aspiration and the current parallel with 92 is going so far above their heads it might as well be being towed behind a small plane.

Fantastic piece of writing there HF. I have to confess to going as far as looking up the complaints number for Sky during the first mackem 3-0 to complain about Quinn but at least we were losing

Self-arrest for grammar tense crimes at the end there?

The ex-Liverpool player who had a go at a player (Sissoko) for diving. Cunt. Have to say I didn't like Benitez using "Project" in the press conference - pretentious bollocks but I'll let him off just this once.