Everton skipper Phil Neville hopes a Carling Cup win tonight at Sheffield United will lift spirits around the club.
Neville is hoping to lift the gloom around Goodison, insisting that there is still plenty to be positive about.
He said: "There is a lot of negativity around the club and it really riles me. There's so many plus points and positives at this place.
"It's been a difficult time [on and off the field] - you can't hide from that - but Everton are no different to 70% of the Premier League. The purse strings have to be tightened.
"Yes, there are four or five clubs, the elite, that don't have to - but we do. No we've not bought any players, but this squad is really strong.
"The message to the fans is that we're going to have a really good season.
"I can understand their frustration but I would just say stick with us. If I didn't think this club was going forward, if I thought it was going backwards, I wouldn't have signed a two-year contract. I still want to win trophies."
