Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall admits he was ‘annoyed’ by reactions to Everton’s end to the transfer window.
David Moyes’ side experienced a chaotic end to the summer market with four departures on deadline day including that of talismanic winger Iliman Ndiaye.
Reinforcements proved difficult to source with Jack Grealish’s loan return and the signing of Ainsley Maitland-Niles marking the Blues’ sole late business.
An attempt to land Folarin Balogun descended into face while owners The Friedkin Group put the club up for partial sale just days after the window shut.
It means Moyes has only Thierno Barry as an established striker option until January while the free agent market has yet to throw up viable alternatives.
Earlier in the window, Everton also tried to sell homegrown star Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest until fan backlash saw the deal pulled.
But while Dewsbury-Hall understands the outpouring of frustration, he insists the quality of Moyes’ squad is still strong despite being short on depth.
“I’ve seen all of the stuff, all of the meltdowns and this and that,” said the playmaker.
“In all honestly it annoyed me a bit because, I get where people are coming from, everyone wants to sign everyone and have the perfect squad.
“But there are still [a group of] lads in this building who are going to hopefully take this club to good things this year.
“I saw people saying: ‘We’ll be lucky to stay up this year.’ What message is that sending to the lads who are already here?
“I’m not blaming anyone. We get it. It didn’t work. But let’s all be positive – right, it’s done, bang, let’s go – and that’s what we’ve been trying to say in the dressing room.
“Of course we would have wanted to sign a couple more, but we’re happy with what we’ve got and it’s given us more impetus now to move on.”
He added: “I know we’ve got a smaller squad but we’ve got some really good players. Our starting XI is top, a European starting XI.
“I get it, you need a whole squad, but we’ve got 17, 18 players at a really, really good level. I don’t think a couple of years ago it was at that level.
“Actually I know it wasn’t. Things can be out of your hands in football and that’s what happened for us.
“But we quickly realised: ‘Hang on a minute, look around the dressing room – top player, top player, top player.’
“If we’re doing the right things we can still be successful.”