Read about the key battle areas ahead of the Sunderland v Newcastle derby

It's a big day in the North East of England on Sunday with the Wear-Tyne derby. No matter where the two teams are in the league, this match is huge. I think it's a actually intensified with the fact that the two teams are in lowly league positions, although Newcastle will feel a little less pressure than Sunderland after getting their first win under their belts with a 6-2 home win over Norwich City at the weekend. Both teams have a new manager (at Sunderland, though we are in a permanent state of having a new manager) and both managers will have a point to prove. Both managers will have a point to prove to the Newcastle United fans after Big Sam Allardyce's failed tenure at St James Park in the past and Steve McClaren's lacklustre start.

The fact of the matter is that Sunderland have a recent hold over the Magpies with five wins in a row, and home advantage on Sunday. The passion of the home fans, if the home team is in the game, is a massive boost for either of these clubs. The fans are immense and the support that they give their players both home and away is up there with the best in the game.

What will be the deciding factors?

Discipline

I think that the team that keeps their head will stand a much better chance of winning this one. With Colback, Cattermole, Tiote and M'Villa potentially all playing in the centre of midfield there's bound to be a lot of tackles flying in and there will almost certainly be yellow cards galore. Players having to think twice about a challenge for fear of a second booking can turn the game, especially if it's tight,

Goals

I know it seems obvious that goals will decide a game but until the six that they scored against a poor Norwich team, Newcastle had struggled to find the net. Sunderland still struggle to find the net. So it's a match where chances will mean so much more. Will Wijnaldum keep up his goalscoring form from the last match? Will Allardyce disagree with previous manager Advocaat and play Jermain Defoe up front on his own? The answers to these questions will also provide answer to the question "who will win the match?"

The fans

I've mentioned it before but I think that after a rough time for both clubs recently, the fans will be in great voice. Both sets of fans will be looking forward to this match immensely and there will be a crackle of excitement around the cities for the next few days. Thierry Henry was amazed by the atmosphere in the stadium in last years match at the Stadium of Light. But this excitement can go the other way. Fans of both clubs can get on the players backs if things start to go wrong for the team. Sunderland fans have made a habit of leaving the stadium before half-time in recent seasons, while Newcastle fans have been hugely critical of the owner and his cronies. If Newcastle start well then the home fans can quickly get under the skin of the players and you can see the confidence drain away.

I can see this one being really close and a lucky bounce or mistake settling it. I'm not sure which way, but I can see another 1-0.

Sunderland signings are starting to roll in

I looked at the areas Sunderland needed to strengthen at the end of the season and now the new season is fast approaching, the signings are starting to roll in. Sunderland have added Jermain Lens and Younes Kaboul this week. These complement Sebastian Coates and Adam Matthews to show four full internationals as additions to our squad.

When I looked at the team, I identified the following -

Pantillimon

NEW Right Back

Van Aanholt

NEW Centre Back

NEW Centre Back

Cattermole

Larsson

Rodwell

Defoe

Giaccherini or Adam Johnson

NEW Attacking Left Midfielder

I think that we have bought in the four areas we needed new players with the team looking like this-

Pantillimon

Matthews

Van Aanholt

Coates

Kaboul

Cattermole

Larsson

Rodwell

Defoe

Giaccherini or Johnson

Lens

In terms of the new signings, I think we've spent really well. The three defenders have come at bargain prices and two of them have Premier League experience. Aside from Coates they look to have a pace that the team has lacked for years.

Any further signings need to be quality additions that will prove the first team. The spending has been modest so far by Premier League standards so there should still be money available for a big signing or two if the right players become available.

The majority of the movement now needs to be in the other direction. We need to release funds from the wage bill and I've identified the people who in think we can do without-

The Ricky Alvarez saga is far from over but from what I can see we will be forced to sign him. I think that staying away from injury he has the potential to be a good player but we can't keep on buying players that only perform every now and again. We need to find a buyer.

Steven Fletcher hasn't produced the goods for a long time. His age is against him and his scoring record is really poor for a striker. Celtic seemed to be lined up, but his wages were a problem. He might have to drop to the Championship but Fletcher's days at sunderland look to be over.

What to do with Connor Wickham? I personally think that he doesn't care about the club. He hasn't lived up to his potential and seems to be more interested in the lifestyle than buckling down and furthering his career. This time last year I was desperate for him to stay after his heroics at the end of the season. But he's not kicked on and we need to cut our losses.

The Poyet signings from Brighton, Bridcutt and Buckley are not good enough for the top flight. Neither have been awful but neither have shown enough quality to suggest that they are moving the club forward. We're looking at international class signings now and these guys have been left behind.

Likewise the De Fanti signings of Roberge and Mavrias. None of our managers have really fancied these two and they've been shipped out on loan almost since they joined the club. I'd like to see them sold, but I think another loan is more likely.