Recently in Sunderland AFC Category

Surely it is too early in my life to feel so disillusioned? I'm too young to be cynical, but I've been bruised, battered and spun around by events at Newcastle United to the point where I think I might have fallen out of love with football.

It isn't just what has happened at St James' Park since I became a sports reporter ten years ago, although that clearly hasn't helped, it is everything the game has become. From Sepp Blatter and Fifa to the conniving, money grabbing agents who get rich off the talent of others.

From the hype and hyperbole of hours of Sky Sports coverage, to the constant failures of England's preening, pampered stars. From greedy, arrogant and selfish players to dishonest owners, via self-serving managers and deluded, irrational armchair fans.

Due to a poorly planned holiday to America I missed the Sunderland vs Newcastle derby last weekend, but what did I actually miss out on?

I missed a combustible atmosphere which threatened to ignite into a blazing inferno after the final whistle, I missed the idiotic Sunderland fan who shoved Steve Harper in the back, I missed Steve Bruce's wild man celebrations and I missed the Black Cats rescuing a point in a game Newcastle thought they had already wrapped up.

I missed out on Kevin Nolan's fourth goal in a Tyne-Wear derby (an impressive ten for the season), I missed the drama of Asamoah Gyan's fortunate (you make your own luck in this game, whatever that means) late equaliser and I missed out on Darren Bent's final appearance in red and white stripes.

It has been a long time since the North East could boast two of the most coveted players in English football, but the real question is how long will Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson remain here?

Nobody has been the subject of more transfer tittle tattle over the last few months than these two, but no matter how many time you are told they are off to this club for that much, and that club for this much, rest assured the pair are here to stay - at least for now.

As another transfer window approaches Steve Bruce is already starting to twitch. Old habits die hard and Sunderland's manager just loves a bit of transfer action.

I don't think there is a manager in England - oh alright Harry Redknapp trumps him - who likes to wheel and deal as much as Bruce and as injuries start to cause problems on Wearside he will be trying to persuade the board to give him some money to spend like Oliver pleading for gruel.

I know the North East means a lot to a lot of people. I know it is THE game of the season and I know the prospect of listening to Newcastle United fans banging on about 5-1 wins for the next 20 years makes a Sunderland heart sink, but it still shouldn't mean Steve Bruce loses his job.

Bruce has taken a right old battering this week as some supporters use the derby demolition as an excuse to kick their manager's achievements on Wearside.

As ever, a sense of perspective is needed. When you are in pain, you lash out, normally at those who are closest to you and Bruce is an easy target.

I don't think I've ever seen a Sunderland side play so badly under Steve Bruce and I'm hard pushed to remember a better Newcastle performance under Chris Hughton. It was an amazing derby clash that is assured of a prominent place in Magpie history.

Kevin Nolan obviously walks away with the man of the match award, but there were so many candidates in the United side. Nobody put in anything less than an 8 out of ten performance which says everything about how dominant they were

For anyone who predicted a Black Cats victory - and that includes me - there is plenty of egg to wipe off, but I still can't quite believe the Wearsiders were as bad as they were.

There is nothing particularly pleasant about a trip to Blackburn, especially when you have to face a team managed by Sam Allardyce once you get there, so Sunderland have got plenty to think about before Monday.

Allardyce is not short on self-confidence. This is a man who, with no tongue anywhere near his cheek, decided to use a press conference last month to explain why he would be better off managing Manchester United or Real Madrid.

In a few short sentences, a manager who lasted less than half a season as manager of Newcastle United and has never won a trophy, went on to proclaim his own genius, suggesting that, if he did occupy one of the top jobs in Europe, he would win a piece of silverware every year.

It is difficult to write about the allegations that have been made against Titus Bramble this week because of legal restrictions, although I'm personally confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

The investigation is still ongoing, but he has the full backing of Sunderland football club, chairman Niall Quinn and manager Steve Bruce on the basis of the information he has given to them and the police. That is all I'm going to say until the police have done their jobs.

However, it was interesting to hear Bruce talking about the need for a "culture of excess" to end in football.

Perhaps I'm too forgiving for my own good, perhaps I'm just stupid, perhaps I just feel it should be case of three strikes and out not two, but I don't think Lee Cattermole should be stripped of the Sunderland captaincy.

The calls for Cattermole to lose the armband have been intense over the weekend, particularly from a large band of cyber warriors who have talked tough on message boards and Twitter.

And it is easy to see why the condemnation has been so widespread and prolonged. Since Cattermole was given the responsibility at the start of the season he has been sent off twice before half-time, for two bookable offences, in just three games.

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.