Hughton happy with increased budget
Norwich manager Chris Hughton admits that the club have invested heavily in their squad over the summer in comparison to recent years but feels that it is essential to keep up with their Barclays Premier League rivals.
The Canaries have struck deals for Nathan Redmond, Leroy Fer, Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Martin Olsson and Gary Hooper since finishing 11th last season as Hughton looks to build on a steady first season in charge at Carrow Road, starting at home to Everton on Saturday.
The sums involved in those deals are a long way from when the club were struggling financially and playing in the third tier of English football but Hughton feels it is the nature of the beast in the money-driven top flight.
"By the standards of this club over the past few years it [the transfer budget]has vastly improved," he said.
"But there are quite a few clubs you can look at who have spent considerably more than they would have done in the past.
"I think that is a consequence of staying in this league and the monetary benefits of staying in this league.
"If you want to improve and bring in better players of course the prices are escalated at times and at times you have to go to those levels. We have strengthened but so has everybody else.
"It is very easy to go and look at other clubs' websites and see the players they have brought in and I think that is about this league and how tough this league is.
"Everyone feels they need to get themselves into the best possible position to start this campaign and try and be as strong as they can.
"We feel we have improved but you have to go and prove that on the football pitch."
Roberto Martinez has asked Everton's fans for patience as he prepares to lead the team for the first time in the Barclays Premier League.
The trip to Carrow Road will be the Toffees' first competitive match for more than 11 years without David Moyes at the helm.
Martinez has been hugely complimentary about the job done by now Manchester United boss Moyes and his team, but he is keen to put his stamp on the club.
The Spaniard knows the luxury of time is something rarely afforded to football managers, but he hopes Everton supporters will see what he is trying to achieve.
Martinez said: "Any period where you want to change things, that's going to take a little bit of time. I'm trying to get to know what the fans want and look through the DNA of Everton, and that's important for me.
"I think we are very good at things but to achieve things you need to be outstanding at something and that takes time. When you're trying to take that next step, the changes need to be difficult to achieve, otherwise you will never get the benefit.
"It's just having the patience and the togetherness of understanding the period we're going through, but at the same time being able to enjoy it and making sure we're still competitive and winning football games while that happens."
Martinez signed three players who were with him at Wigan last season, and goalkeeper Joel Robles and striker Arouna Kone should be in the squad but defender Antolin Alcaraz is sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Winger Magaye Gueye and full-back Tony Hibbert are also out, although the latter is set to resume training on Monday, while midfielder Darron Gibson is 50/50 after straining a knee ligament against Betis.
Source: DSG
