I’m in my mid-40s and have been a Sunderland fan since 1984, but during the Fulham away game in the cup last year, I got a sensation unlike any other time I’d supported the club.

The peculiar impression was that I was seeing something very amazing. The way the squad played, the quality, the optimism, the tactical nous, the steeliness and mental fortitude, the combination of youth and experience, Chris Rigg’s stunning cameo, the absolute genius of Amad and Roberts—it was truly magnificent.And, following the fantastic home win against Middlesborough, it seemed like the beginning of something larger; that Sunderland was finally being operated in a progressive manner, with good foundations and a true commitment to success.

But it is now evident that Fulham was not the beginning of something, but rather the conclusion. It was the highlight of the KLD/Speakman project. Four days later, the transfer market closed again, with no replacements for Stewart and Simms, leaving inexperienced Joe Gelhardt as our lone striker for the remainder of the season.

Although Mowbray and the players performed admirably to finish sixth, the transfer window signaled that the board was going to tackle things in their own unique way.

A year later, we all know what it means: a rigid, predetermined model centered on dumping exceptional players and outstanding managers in favor of far younger, cheaper, and (often invariably) worse alternatives. And it entails adhering to that model anyway, implying that anyone who criticize it cannot possibly comprehend the complexities and genius of the long-term design.

It’s bluff and bluster. It is arrogance fueled by narcissism. It borders on carelessness. And it’s all coming to a head right now.

However, we were unaware of this during the Fulham game. We still believed in KLD and Speakman. We knew they’d make errors, just like everyone else, but there was true belief and faith in their ability to keep things going along reasonably rapidly.

It is nearly hard to hold that viewpoint now. Generous supporters may be prepared to give them the summer to see whether trust can be rebuilt; I wish I felt that way, but I’m not so sure.

I now look back on Fulham’s away game with regret and hatred. It might take years to get back to the point where we have Clarke, Roberts, Stewart, Amad, Ballard, Batth, Patterson, and Neil on the same squad.

Unbelievably, Fulham was not the beginning of anything magnificent, but the conclusion.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk