Vote for your April 2024 WAB Brighton Player of the Month
No Brighton player managed to score a goal in April 2024 as the most disappointing month of the 2023-24 campaign saw five games played, three lost, two drawn and 11 goals conceded.
“What the **** are we going to do about Player of the Month?” went the conversation at WAB Towers when trying to compile a shortlist. “They have all been crap.”
The answer is to include the four Albion players who have been less crap than the rest and the two Burnley players who very kindly combined to produce the only Albion goal of the month, which earned a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.
Brighton took their other point from a 0-0 draw at Brentford. This does at least give us a reason to include Bart Verbruggen for keeping a clean sheet.
Title chasing Arsenal stuck three past the Albion at the Amex and reigning champions Manchester City four. Two results not exactly unexpected given the Albion’s poor form since the turn of the year.
The other April defeat was, however, something of a disaster. Brighton were outplayed but more concerningly, outfought on their way to a 3-0 hammering away at Bournemouth.
Roberto De Zerbi said after defeat to the Cherries that the Albion players have struggled for motivation since being eliminated from the Europa League.
Which is exactly what you want to hear with four games and another month of the campaign still to play.
The candidates for WeAreBrighton.com April 2024 Brighton Player of the Month
Carlos Baleba
Enjoyed a run of starts through April thanks to Billy Gilmour spending almost the entire month out injured. His potential was underlined with a dominating opening 15 minutes at Brentford whilst also being one of the better Brighton players against both Burnley and Arsenal.
Valentin Barco
Roberto De Zerbi has spent the past four months since Barco arrived from Boca Juniors explaining how the teenage left back was not yet ready for the Premier League. And then he goes and throws him in for a full debut against City of all teams. Aside from a goal-costing error, Barco looked decent against the Abu Dhabi Sportswashers. He followed up with a decent display at Bournemouth.
Sander Berge
One-time Brighton target Berge got his first assist for the Albion a little under five years after first being linked with a big money move to the Amex. He provided the back pass to Arijanet Muric which rolled straight under the foot of the Burnley goalkeeper for the only Brighton goal of the month. Cheers, Sander.
Lewis Dunk
Dunk makes the shortlist for Brighton April 2024 Player of the Month on account of being one of the only players who looked like he actually cares. Best of a bad bunch against Bournemouth and had a fine evening in helping secure the clean sheet at Brentford.
Arijanet Muric
The Clarets number one was credited with the own goal at Turf Moor. Thank goodness he decided to coat the bottom of this boots with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter before kick off, otherwise Albion supporters would have nothing to cheer through April. Cheers, Arijanet.
Bart Verbruggen
His shutout at Brentford ensured Brighton came back from the Gtech Stadium with a share of the spoils. He made a series of impressive saves against Arsenal too, ensuring the game did not end in a cricket score.
Poll closes at 10pm on Sunday 5th May 2024