Barry Moat Brings Hope And Sunderland's New Midfield

Yet, in all that time, as Sky have denied it and senior figures at the club have also tried to play down the story, it has never been confirmed by anyone. Why? Non disclosure agreements have been used as an excuse, but it is immensely frustrating when you know something is right yet other people are able to deny it to suit their own agendas!

Anyway, enough of that. I'm supposed to at the start of a two week holiday and I'm heading to Spain shortly with the family, but I wanted to leave my thoughts regarding last weekend's action.

For Newcastle there was finally something to attach some hope to. From what I've heard, Moat has now raised the money and is just haggling with Ashley about the final price.

On the football pitch, a hat-trick for Shola Ameobi was not only long overdue, it was also highly impressive. It has been disparagingly commented before that Ameobi is a Championship striker, but that is no longer an insult!

At this level Ameobi looks a threat to any defence and it is not beyond the realms of possibility to imagine him scoring 20 goals this season.

United played some good football against Reading, a strong Championship side, and added weight to the argument that at the core of the first team squad there is a group of players who can get the Magpies back into the Premier League at the first attempt.

However, that core can easily be ravished by injuries and suspensions and the squad is hopelessly inadequate to deal with them.

Yes, there are some promising kids in the background but they are kids, completely untried at this level and lacking the experience to make an impact. The odd game here and there will be fine, but you can't expect to throw them in at the deep end this season.

By my reckoning, the new manager - let's hope it's Alan Shearer - will have about a week to conduct all his recruitment and there aren't many players out there. I predict Leeds United's Jermaine Beckford will be one of them and his pace will complement the power and aerial threat of Andy Carroll and Ameobi.

They will also need a centre back, Sol Campbell will do nicely, and they need someone to play wide on the left and possibly some cover at left-back and the centre of midfield.

Most of these will be loan signings, but the good thing is, if Shearer is the manager, Newcastle are a very attractive option for any promising youngster looking to make a name for himself. Blimey, Newcastle will even be able to lure loan players if Joe Kinnear is back as boss and that is some achievement!

As for Sunderland, I was extremely impressed with what I saw against Bolton Wanderers. Marton Fulop made two fantastic saves at the end of either half, but Sunderland played some scintillating stuff at times.

Darren Bent looks as though he will perfectly compliment the strength of Kenwyne Jones, while the centre of midfield pairing of Lee Cattermole and Lorik Cana has the makings of a legendary one in the red and white stripes.

Combative, energetic and determined, Sunderland will no longer be lightweight in that area, a weakness that has cost them ever since they returned to the Premier League.

The defence still has a few holes in it, but all in all this was a great way to start the new season and if I were a Sunderland fan I would be really excited about what lies ahead this year.

It's been a long summer, but the dark clouds are starting to clear over St James's Park and there is plenty of light at the end of the tunnel for Sunderland. Hopes has returned and we should all be happy about that.