RuntimeError: A column was specified that does not exist. How to find which field

fouled_up_column.py

#: the fields in the feature class
actual = set([str(x.name) for x in arcpy.ListFields(r'')])
#: the fields you are trying to use
expected = set([])

fouled_up = expected - actual

reproduce.py

import arcpy
import os

test_location = 'c:\\temp'
gdb_name = 'inspecific_error'
gdb_path = os.path.join(test_location, gdb_name) + '.gdb'
table_name = 'tell_me_the_column_name'
table_path = os.path.join(gdb_path, table_name)
fouled_up_fields = ['test', 'this_one']

if not os.path.exists(test_location):
            os.makedirs(test_location)

arcpy.CreateFileGDB_management(test_location, gdb_name, 'CURRENT')

arcpy.CreateTable_management(gdb_path, table_name)

arcpy.AddField_management(table_path, 'test', 'TEXT')

try:
    with arcpy.da.SearchCursor(table_path, fouled_up_fields) as cursor:
        for row in cursor:
            continue
except RuntimeError as e:
    print 'tell me which one is missing!!'
    print e
    print 'oh thanks, not useful'

#: the fields in the feature class
actual = set([str(x.name) for x in arcpy.ListFields(table_path)])

#: the fields you are trying to use
my_silly_input = set(fouled_up_fields)

missing = my_silly_input - actual

print 'the fouled up columns are {}'.format(missing)

In case anyone is googleing its way here: I created a bunch of foul fields by doing a join with arcpy.AddJoin and then use arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass to make the join permanent. That seemed to be the wrong way. I only could fix my foul fields by joining via arcpy.JoinField instead (better way, anyway...).

@steveoh: Thanks to pointing out that there is an issue with foul fields. I've gotten almost crazy over this...