We'll never know, but I think they were all bothered and tried. Some are simply too slow, allied to a lack of (consistent) top flight ability, to cut it.
That’s unfair about CH’s transfer budget. The Stains, Bmuff and Burnley squads have cost more in their totality. To ignore the players those clubs bought before CH got us promoted, focusing only on spending in the last 4 windows, would be silly.
Going by his laid back, happy in himself, media interviews over the last 21 months, he’ll take it in his stride. In describes every PL appearance as an unexpected bonus after a long career.