Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has insisted that his team will not improve overnight.
The Black Cats signed Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson in big money moves during the summer but Sunderland are only sitting in 16th place in the Premier League table.
However, despite Sunderland's over-reliance on Fletcher's goals during the first quarter of the season, O'Neill is confident that his side will eventually come good.
O'Neill said: "By hook or by crook I intend to make this team one the supporters are genuinely proud of and feel as if they have a chance of competing.
"It's not overnight - I have not completed a season yet - but I intend to do that. I'm sitting here today in early November 2012 and I hope that in a couple of seasons we'll have a really strong team here."
Sunderland travel to Goodison Park to play Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Darren Plant
