Recently in Sunderland AFC Category

Despite all the public displays of support, the confused looks in front of the camera when asked whether Kenwyne Jones would be leaving, the striker's departure has looked likely for months not weeks.

If Sunderland had received a decent bid back in January, Jones would have been sold then. For all of his raw talent, physical presence and aerial power, Jones simply does not do it well enough, often enough.

Bruce has tried everything to coax the best out of him on a regular basis. There have been friendly chats and far from friendly bollockings, but Jones simply did not respond, whether it was the carrot or the stick.

The resignation of Martin O'Neill does not immediately have any ramifications for North-East football, but the departure of such a high-profile and respected Premier League manager will eventually influence some major decisions this season.

When a manager as good as he sits at home, waiting for the next job opportunity, Premier League chairman are far more willing to push the button on the manager's ejector seat at their own clubs.

While most supporters at this time of year are more concerned with who is coming into their clubs, Steve Bruce is fretting more about who he can get out of Sunderland.

Although Bruce is still looking to strengthen the squad on the left flank and in both full-back positions once the loan signing of John Mensah has been completed, he is still under orders to slash the wage bill.

Indeed, it is the struggle to get players shifted which is causing the Black Cats boss restless nights. He has already moved on an incredible 22 players in just 14 months in charge, but probably needs to move on another four before the transfer window closes.

Why on Earth are Sunderland so interested in signing Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck when it has the potential to do far more harm than good to the club's long term future?

We all know Steve Bruce is a wheeler dealer when it comes to making new signings, but I just cannot see the sense in this deal because Sunderland already have Martyn Waghorn's progress to consider.

Effectively, what Sunderland's manager intends to do is help the development of a 19-year-old centre-forward at Manchester United at the expense of a 20-year-old striker who has come through the club's own Academy system.

With adverts for the new Premier League campaign virtually on repeat on any Sky channel we are already been herded up for another gruelling ten months of domestic football.

When the England team fails, we always round on our domestic game, its failings and its shortcomings, the lack of young players coming through and the sheer number of foreign imports blocking their way.

And then.....we forget all about it as soon as we get to within excitement distance of a competitive ball being kicked..

Steve Bruce will be upset by the departure of Lorik Cana although it will have more to do with hurt pride than the damage it will do to Sunderland next season.

It took Cana just a couple of hours on his return to Wearside to ask for a move - a polite way of saying demand in truth - which suggests the talks with Galatasaray were far more advanced than they should have been.

Interesting to see Steve Bruce target a top eight finish for Sunderland this week, while also suggesting it will be virtually impossible to achieve. A novel approach to managing expectations at the Stadium of Light.

To translate, Bruce knows Sunderland aspire to be play European football - Niall Quinn has talked about this happening within the next two years - so he publicly indicates he shares that ambition while simultaneously implying it is unrealistic.

Simple but effective way of balancing the demands of the boardroom with the need to protect your own position.

Sunderland only need one more win to guarantee their Premier League safety, although in reality fears about relegation vanished weeks ago. That is, when you look at the last two seasons, significant progress.

So what have we learnt about the Black Cats this season? Steve Bruce has done a good job, the team has progressed from 12 months ago and they are starting to look like an established Premier League club.

Darren Bent has been a phenomenal signing and could go on to become on the club's all time greats, while the likes of Lorik Cana, Michael Turner and Lee Cattermole have strengthened the spine of the side.

I'm sorry I can't help it. After a week in which Sunderland have finally remembered they are a half decent side and are good enough to win the odd game of football, and Newcastle stumbled, but still took another big step towards a Premier League return, I've been distracted.

I've tried to resist the temptation and I've tried very hard not to get caught up in a national wave of hysterical optimism - I still have the scars from the last time - but I can't do it, it's impossible sometimes when England are concerned.

It's a World Cup year and already one player has managed to make sure he is the big story even before a ball has been kicked. His name is David Beckham and he was, once upon a time, an excellent footballer.

Sunderland are on a slippery slope at the moment and as anyone who has been watching the Winter Olympics will know that is always a dangerous place to be.

But this isn't the luge, it isn't even ski-ing, and it certainly isn't curling, which appears to be the only winter sport played by the British with any sort of real gusto - bowls on ice.

It's dull, though, isn' it? I mean, I'm not saying I haven't sat in bed watching it until the early hours because I have, it's still sport and it's on terrestrial television so of course I have, but give me someone sliding down an ice tunnel on a tea tray any day of the week.