A year on the Wear:One step forward, two steps back: that is how Roy Keane said things feel at Sunderland of late. You can understand his perspective. In 23 games across three competitions Sunderland have yet to go three unbeaten and tomorrow at home to Portsmouth it starts all over again.
This time, though, is different because, as Keane accepted yesterday, the enormous goodwill generated by him and the team last season - and by Niall Quinn and Drumaville - has been eaten away week by week, defeat by defeat. Last Saturday, in particular, losing 3-0 at home to Wigan in the FA Cup, felt like a huge bite was taken out of everything that had been worked for.
There are more than crumbs left but that is not too much comfort, to Keane or the supporters. Acknowledging the scale of last Saturday's dejection and embarrassment, Keane said: "We have to get people back on side.
"The best way to do that is by winning matches or at least giving it your all - we didn't see that last weekend. So we need a response, which is what sport is all about, people reacting to setbacks. Our supporters are always looking at us and saying we may lack quality in certain areas, but 'give your all'. We didn't see that last week.
"What we did in the second half of last season was build up momentum, but we have not been able to do that this season. We beat Bolton, then we go to Blackburn and should be getting something out of it and we don't. Then we come back and lose a Cup game. It's been one step forward, two steps back and we need to get a little run going, starting on Sunday."
It could be argued that Keane's reference to last season is not valid because, literally, Sunderland were in a different league. That's fine, yet it is instructive simply because of its proximity, and then some. From January 1st, 2007, Sunderland had 20 league games, won 16 and lost one. On no occasion did Keane's players go consecutive games without victory.
Such momentum was necessary because on January 1st Sunderland were 10th in the Championship. Their first home game of the year was watched by 27,000. Where Sunderland were in May was not visible in January.
The reminder is pertinent this week because this has been Keane's worst, and Sunderland's worst, since he took the job 18 months ago.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves," an angry fan shouted at Keane and his staff in the home dugout as Wigan strolled to their three-goal lead. Keane's post-match agreement with the fan may have taken some of the sting out of the afternoon but tomorrow there will be around 40,000 at the Stadium of Light, not the 27,000 of last season when games were being won, or the 20,000 who made it through last Saturday.
That brings pressure and Sunderland must respond. Failure to beat Portsmouth, who may be distracted by the Harry Redknapp Cockney Geordie Show and the loss of players to the African Nations Cup, and we will be presented with a most delicate situation.
External anger from fans, who most definitely do not see Keane as bigger than the club, would be one thing, but in a time of hardship in football there is also, inevitably, internal dissent. That can be equally troublesome.
Keane said that he has not yet seen Clive Clarke's criticism of his management style, which surfaced this week. He seemed to know all about it, having said that. Clarke's allegation is that Keane is a mixture of anger and aloofness. He kicks/throws chairs.
"Chair or chairs?" Keane asked. "No, I have never actually thrown a chair." Had Clarke's views given Keane food for thought? "None whatsoever. Clive has played one or two games while I have been manager. None whatsoever.
"If people believe I'm doing that every week, they're sadly mistaken. I have no problem with players having an opinion, they're entitled to that, but I have a certain way of coaching and dealing with players. That will change, I'm sure, week to week and month to month, but my coaching and management have not changed since I got the job.
"People said it was working a treat last year, all of a sudden we get a few comments from a player who I think has played two games under me. I am certainly not going to lose any sleep. The strange thing is that the article mentioned me losing my temper but I have never really lost temper. If people are worried about me losing my temper, then believe me, they have not seen nothing, honestly. If people are worried now, my Jesus."
Keane's tone, at that moment, was jocular. But more may come out as players leave - David Connolly, Graham Kavanagh, Ian Harte, Ross Wallace and €3.3 million summer signing from Wigan Greg Halford were told yesterday they can depart - and Keane could tell that the tenor of this weekly gathering had changed. People are worried, worried that Sunderland do not possess the necessary quality to finish above three other clubs. Kenwyne Jones, Keane's best buy, is "50/50" for tomorrow.
There was still laughter in the room, Keane's form was good. "It's important at a time like this that you keep your head, let everyone else panic. Everyone was patting themselves on the back last year but we were doing a lot of the same stuff, same training, same days out, and everyone said it was brilliant last year.
"As you would expect people are questioning that now but that's when you have to stay strong. We are still determined and confident that we will be a Premiership team next year.
"I have been relegated with Nottingham Forest and it is without doubt the worst feeling in football. You can talk about missing out on trophies but relegation is the worst thing I have had to deal with in my career. I don't want to taste it again. We end up having this conversation. But I am very positive."
