Watford boss Roy Hodgson has shrugged off the extra financial support given to Crystal Palace successor Patrick Vieira as he prepares to take on his former club.
Vieira spent over £60million last summer in recruiting Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard, while Conor Gallagher was brought in on loan from Chelsea and has made a major impact at Selhurst Park.
The former Arsenal and France midfielder has been credited for making Palace a far more entertaining outfit, but the Eagles are actually six points worse off after 26 games than they were under Hodgson last season.
Hodgson said: “Palace are doing well, they've improved the team and brought some very good players into the club.
“Furthermore they still have the basis of that experience that I was able to use when I was there.
“Nothing miffs me about Crystal Palace because I spent four very good years there.
“I was given the support the club was able to give me. Luckily they've been able to give Patrick even more support, certainly in terms of money and the players they could buy.
“We're very quick in this country to point out things are much better, then only to point out things are much worse even when you're describing exactly the same situation.
“I was reminded we had 32 points after 25 games last year, so we must have been doing something right."
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