WAB Brighton Power Rankings August & September 2022
The first WAB Brighton Power Rankings of the 2022-23 season combine August and September’s fixtures, rating Albion players for their efforts in six Premier League matches and one Carabao Cup outing.
It was a bloody good opening seven games to kick off the campaign too. Five wins, one draw and one defeat leaves the Seagulls sitting pretty in fourth place in the top flight and having booked their place in the third round of the League Cup.
Sadly, Graham Potter and his entire backroom chasing the dollar by walking out for Chelsea has taken some of the shine off that start.
These Power Rankings serve as a reminder that it is not all about Potter. Brighton have some seriously talented players and whoever becomes the 36th manager of the Albion has all the tools at his (or her) disposal to continue the progress and the project Potter has abandoned.
1) Alexis Mac Allister – 78.57
A superb first six games of the season puts the Argentine midfielder top of the Power Rankings. Mac Allister has thrived in the deeper role thrust upon him since the sale of Yves Bissouma to Spurs, being the main reason why the Albion have not looked in the slightest but bothered by Bissouma’s departure. His four goals see him lead the early season scoring charts; three superbly taken penalties and a stunning free kick to round off the 5-2 rout of Leicester City.
2) Pascal Gross – 74.95
Gross was voted WAB Player of the Month for August, continuing the form he had shown in the final month of the 2021-22 season. A brace in the 2-1 win at Manchester United got the campaign started in style. Scored the winner when Leeds United were beaten 1-0 at the Amex and added further assists to his ever-growing tally against Leicester and when West Ham were beaten 2-0.
3) Moises Caicedo – 74.07
Potter said that £42 million would get you one of Caicedo’s boots. Hopefully, the ex-Albion boss remembers that and Chelsea do not come in with a piss taking offer in January. Caicedo has forged a promising partnership with Mac Allister and displayed his eye for goal, getting his account for the season up and running with the second against Leicester.
4) Danny Welbeck – 72.97
Welbz is Dat Guy. Failed to find the back of the net but his role at Brighton is about so much more than goals. Stretches the play, brings others in and proved himself the perfect guy to lead the line as the lone front man in Potter’s 3-3-3-1. You only have to look at the difference in Albion performance when he was rested for the 2-1 defeat against Fulham compared to the other five Premier League games played so far to see what he brings the party.
5) Leandro Trossard – 69.12
Looks miles better out on the left than he has done through the middle, making it particularly frustrating that Potter deployed him as a false nine away against Fulham. Two very well taken goals coming against West Ham and Leicester have been the highlights of his 2022-23 so far.
5) Joel Veltman – 69.12
The dependable Dutchman was his normal dependable self and that makes him the highest scoring defender in the WAB Power Rankings. Did not put a foot wrong in August and September, unlike Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster who both had a couple of questionable moments.
7) Lewis Dunk – 66.26
A strange start to the season for the Albion captain. In some games like United and West Ham, he has been impervious. In others like Leicester and Fulham, he has made goal-costing mistakes. The 4.83 he registered in the player ratings from Craven Cottage was his lowest mark since 2019. A harsh score as the comedy own goal was worth a 9 on its own.
8) Solly March – 66.15
If March could finish, then he might well have topped the Power Rankings. Six really good performances down the right flank. The only thing missing was a goal not relying on a heavy deflection from a Leicester defender to divert it into the back of the net.
9) Robert Sanchez – 63.08
Like Dunk, Sanchez has been pretty inconsistent. Nothing sums that up better than the United game, when he made an unbelievable save from Marcus Rashford before turning to jelly and flapping at everything five minutes later. And yet he still managed to record three clean sheets.
10) Adam Webster – 62.09
Some interesting moments in the Fulham and Leicester matches when the defence began creaking. He also scored low for the 0-0 draw with Newcastle United. Needs to do better if he is to push himself into England reckoning before the World Cup.
11) Enock Mwepu – 57.58
Potter used him as a striker in the closing stages of the Leeds win and away at Fulham. He looked like a rabbit in the headlights up there. Miles better when restored to his more natural number 10 role against Leicester. It was his driving 40 yard run and pass that superbly assisted Caicedo to put the Albion ahead against the Foxes for the first time on that chaotic afternoon.
12) Tariq Lamptey – 43.74
Slipped behind March in the right wing back pecking order during the final months of the Potter Era. A positive cameo from the bench in the Fulham defeat and a solid showing in the young Brighton side who beat Forest Green Rovers 3-0 offered reminders of the talent he possesses. How the new manager uses him will be one of the more fascinating aspects of the next few months.
13) Kaoru Mitoma – 31.32
M-m-m-my Mitoma. Restricted to substitute appearances in the Premier League, where he has offered something different to most of his Albion teammates with a willingness to get on the ball and run at opponents. He managed to come second in the player ratings for both the Newcastle and Fulham matches despite playing for no more than 30 minutes in each.
14) Adam Lallana – 26.04
Three good performances in midfield before injury struck following the win at West Ham. He will be sidelined until October. Brighton are utilising his experience and leadership skills by having him assist interim head coach Andrew Crofts until Potter’s successor is found.
15) Pervis Estupinan – 23.85
Based on what we have seen so far, things are not going to be dull with Estupinan around. Going forward, he was a real threat against Leeds and earned the penalty for the Albion consolation at Fulham. Defensively, he gave the ball away for the Cottagers’ second and had to be substituted in the Leeds game after every pass he made started going to the visitors.
16) Levi Colwill – 13.08
Replaced the injured Veltman in the closing stages against Leeds, helping to secure the clean sheet and three points. One of the better players on show in the Forest Green win. He needs more game time before a proper judgement can be made on what he will bring during his year on loan from Chelsea.
17) Deniz Undav – 11.65
Scored against Forest Green although you would be a little concerned if he had not. His miss from a few yards out with just Bernd Leno to beat late on at Fulham suggests he will fit right in at the Albion. Like Colwill, more match action needed.
18) Steve Alzate – 3.30
Brighton are well stocked in midfield and Alzate’s lack of consistency leaves him well down the pecking order. Netted at Forest Green but has since been shipped out on loan to Standard Liege for the rest of the season.
18) Julio Enciso – 3.30
The Paraguayan wonderkid signed amidst much fanfare in the summer has been restricted to just Carabao Cup minutes despite a promising set of showings in pre-season. Potter took the slow and patient approach with the likes of Caicedo and Mac Allister, and Enciso seemed set to follow the same path. The change of manager may mean we see his talents on a more regular basis sooner than expected.
18) Evan Ferguson – 3.30
A solid display from the teenager at Forest Green which suggested he could handle the rough and tumble of League One if sent on loan. A close range finish at the death gave him his first senior goal.
18) Jason Steele – 3.30
One reason to love the Carabao Cup is that it means we get to be entertained by Steele. It was a classic 90 minutes against Forest Green. Made an absolute mess of some routine crosses mixed in with pulling off outrageous reflex saves.
18) Jan Paul van Hecke – 3.30
The reigning Blackburn Rovers Player of the Season dealt with the physical threat posed by the Forest Green front line, looked good on the ball and had to show a turn of pace on a couple of occasions covering behind.
23) Cameron Peupion – 3.08
Not on the pitch for long at the New Lawn but in his short time he set up Ferguson for the final goal with some enterprising play.
23) Ed Turns – 3.08
The Albion seem to turn out homegrown defenders for fun. Efficient rather than spectacular playing alongside Van Hecke and Colwill in the back three against Forest Green.
25) Jack Spong – 2.86
Started well at Forest Green but became sloppy with the ball as the game wore on.
25) Jack Hinchy – 2.64
Handed his Brighton debut with a 10 minute runout down the right in the Carabao Cup. Was direct when looking to get forward and test the Forest Green defence, only for his final ball to let him down.
25) Andrew Moran – 2.64
Already has a reputation for his close control and quick feet. Displayed those traits on the occasions Brighton got him onto the ball at Forest Green, which was not really enough to be honest.
26) Odel Offiah – 2.64
Pace and power, as you would expect from the nephew of rugby legend Martin Offiah. His passing was a little wayward at times.
The WAB Power Rankings are formulated through our matchday player scores. To play your part, make sure to follow us on Twitter and leave your post game player ratings in the relevant thread.
