Everton raised eyebrows with their ambitious recruitment in this summer's transfer window.
The Blues sealed a series of bold moves that saw them bring in James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan to instantly bolster the first team.
Young prospect Niels Nkounkou was also secured back in July, with Ben Godfrey and Robin Olsen arriving on deadline day.
Carlo Ancelotti's men are now flying high at the top of the Premier League table after winning their first four games.
And it is becoming clear how significant an impact the events of the past few weeks could have on their season.
Speaking at the outset of the current campaign, Gary Neville reflected on the signing of Rodriguez.
The Sky Sports pundit pointed to a "mentality shift" that the Blues needed to make to accompany the new injection of talent.
Neville said: “James Rodriguez for Everton, I think everyone wants to see how he does in the Premier League.
“I think we’ve seen players who have had sensational World Cups, played at Real Madrid and you know they have got a huge talent.
"At least [Everton] are buying a big name.
“They have got a big name manager and a few big name players, and if that doesn't change the mentality and culture of the club that has really struggled, walk into a big match anywhere it would seem for years and years and feel like they belong.
“James Rodriguez is not going to go out there and feel like he doesn't belong on this occasion.
"He has played for Real Madrid, in World Cups, he played for Bayern Munich.
“For me, I think it is about the mentality shift that Everton have needed to make. Signing young players is great, we know they have got some good young players.
"But are they going to do it on their own? No.
“They players around them who can stand in that tunnel with them and they can look up to and go ’yeah, we are going to have this today’. Even me as a young player, we didn’t do it on our own, we had experienced players alongside us who showed us the way.”
The new men have settled in quickly and adapted well to the system at Goodison Park.
Just as noticeable has been a fresh lease of life for several existing stars who were already on the books under Ancelotti.
Neville, it seems, is already being proved right about the culture change that appears to be underway at Everton.
And the next challenge for the Blues is to take their stellar form and growing belief into the Merseyside derby against Liverpool this weekend and get a positive result.
