Roy Hodgson plays down expectations at West Brom

11 August 2011 11:12
Roy Hodgson has played down expectation levels for the new season after admitting West Brom are operating on a tight financial budget compared to many clubs. [LNB]The Baggies have brought in six players this summer in Gareth McAuley, Billy Jones, Zoltan Gera, Ben Foster, Martin Fulop and Shane Long. [LNB]But Long was the only player to cost a sizeable fee - an initial ?4.5million - with the others all Bosman free signings apart from Foster, who has joined on loan from Birmingham. [LNB] Marquee signing: The Baggies have bought striker Shane Long from Reading[LNB]Albion finished 11th in the Barclays Premier League last season after collecting 20 points from the final 12 games. But Hodgson said: 'People need to be sufficiently aware to realise we are still fighting with lesser resources and we are still pulling rabbits out of the hat to some extent. [LNB]'If you spend ?100million you are likely to get more or better players than the team that spends ?2-3million. [LNB]'If you want a Savile Row suit, you pay Saville Row prices but you can still put a suit on your back from Tesco's. [LNB] Bargains: Roy Hodgson has also brought in Zoltan Gera and Ben Foster[LNB]'There are limits and it would be unfair to expect the Tesco man to look as good as the Savile Row man.'[LNB] Hodgson added: 'We are not Manchester City or Liverpool. People talk about spending ?50million as if it is nothing at all. [LNB]'We talk about net spends of ?2-3million if we're lucky. You have to put those things into perspective - and I think our fans can. [LNB]'I'd like to think they have got as realistic an attitude towards things as we have.'[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEHodgson hails Long signing as Reading striker jets into HawthornsMy Club blog: Here's YOUR chance to write about YOUR football team for SportsmailClub-by-club guide to all the Barclays Premier League summer transfers  [LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail