Sussex

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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I have always found it strange how little clubs are willing or need to spend to secure a good manager.

Whilst a transfer fee in excess of £50m for a player barely raises an eyebrow these days, there tends to be shock and awe when a head coach costs even a fraction of that. This despite their importance.

Take Fabian Hurzeler for example. St Pauli released their 2023-24 accounts last week, revealing Brighton paid around £5.4m for Hurzeler.

With the Albion sitting only four points off second spot, this already seems like money well spent. And in context of player transfers, Brighton have a head coach with world-class potential for a third of what they paid for Jurgen Locadia back in 2018.

Yet the fee still feels like a lot for a manager. Likewise when Chelsea paid £21m to the Albion for Graham Potter. A genuine jaw-dropping amount.

The way it panned out was obviously hilarious with the Blues being mocked by fans of every other club for such a waste of money.

But if Potter had been a success and delivered trophies at Stamford Bridge, it would have been seen as a good investment by Chelsea.

Potter remains the second-most expensive manager of all time after Julian Nagelsman. £5.4m makes Hurzeler the 11th most expensive, behind Jose Mourinho and the £6.9m Real Madrid paid to take 'The Special One' from Inter Milan in 2010.

Interestingly, four of the top 10 are managers appointed since the summer. Vincent Kompany, Enzo Maresca, Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim. Clubs now appear to be realising that paying big money for coaches is as important as players.

As one of the most innovative outfits in world football, Brighton are ahead of the curve. Again. And it – or should that be Hurzeler – could help take the Albion back into Europe.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha gives us his insight and opinion every fortnight on your Premier League club.

But this week, he's in the hotseat for your questions.

So what do you want to ask for a former player. Best opponent? Most memorable team-mate he played with?

Or maybe you're just interested in what next for your club this season?

Send in your questions, external

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

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West Ham were looking down and out after going two goals behind against Brighton.

Then Hammers captain Katrina Gorry came to the fore with two goals in five minutes to give Rehanne Skinner's side hope of a WSL point.

Two strikes from long-range, Gorry's first goals for the club, turned the match completely and Brighton looked set to be frustrated after dominating for long periods.

However, an injury to Gorry proved critical. Minutes after scoring her second goal, the Australian midfielder was withdrawn after hurting her shoulder while attempting a sliding tackle on Kiko Seike.

Fran Kirby struck late to seal the win for Brighton, but it might have been a different story if Gorry had remained on the pitch.

Gorry was also influential in West Ham's first WSL win of the season last week and it will be hoped that her injury is not as bad as it looked initially.

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There has been some pressure on players carrying an injury going into international breaks with their national side because you are contracted to these clubs and that is where your income is.

But, for me, as a player I had a similar mindset to Harry Kane that I would always be available - injured or not injured. I would have injections when I was on international duty just so I could represent my country because it meant that much.

It is difficult, however. If you look at Jack Grealish and Pep Guardiola's comments, he has a point because the forward has not been able to play for Manchester City because of injuries. So if you have been sidelined for three or four games, I would agree that you are then not fit and available to go on international duty.

But when you look at some of the other players, ones who have been playing and being managed by their club, then I do not see it being different to being played and managed by your country.

From the club's side, when they are competing at such high levels in the Premier League, you can understand why they would want their players to be rested and get fully fit again over the two weeks, rather than having to come back straight into a hectic period of fixtures.

I kind of get it from both points of view but, as a player, if I am half fit and being played by my club, I would be fully available for my national team.

It is really difficult with the pressure that is on the players, though. I would not look at it as a decision players have made solely.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Brighton's Tariq Lamptey is being monitored by Everton and West Ham, who both want to sign the right-back on a free transfer in the summer. (Football Insider), external

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