Everton striker Louis Saha has blamed the club's failure to sign new players in the summer for their indifferent start to the season.
The Toffees are currently 16th in the Premier League table, three points above the relegation zone.
Boss David Moyes managed to secure the services of Royston Drenthe on loan from Real Madrid, but lost Mikel Arteta to Arsenal in the process.
Former France international Saha has described such transfer dealings as "disturbing".
"We had a very difficult start to the season," he told France Football.
"Financial issues didn't allow us to have a real strengthening campaign. Indirectly, it has an impact.
"When a player like Drenthe came at the last moment and Arteta left, it is disturbing. We had to find our bearings again."
The 33-year-old joined Everton in 2008 from Manchester United.
