Brighton Player Ratings August 2024: Pedro is pick of the pops
Brighton made an unbeaten start to life under Fabian Hurzeler (youngest permanent manager in Premier League history) and that means we have some pretty big scores in our WAB August 2024 Player Ratings.
Victories from two tough fixtures away at Everton and home to Manchester United kicked off the league season. Crawley Rugby Club were dealt with next in a tasty Carabao Cup Sussex Derby before the Albion became the first team to take a point off Arsenal.
29 players pulled on the stripes over the course of the month as Hurzeler flexed the muscles of what looks the most powerful squad Brighton have ever had.
And that was with only Yankubu Minteh of the nine new signings bought in for a combined total of £193 million receiving any significant game time. It is frightening to think how good the Albion might become when all the new faces are fit, firing and integrated.
Here are your WAB Brighton August 2024 Player Ratings.
1) Joao Pedro – 7.93
His 95th minute winner against United was a thing of beauty; the coolest, calmest header you will see in such a situation. Followed up with a clinical finish to become the first player to score past Arsenal this season. Called up by Brazil and named by 90min in their list of 10 Best Premier League Players in August. Obviously, he will cherish top spot in the WAB Brighton August 2024 Player Ratings the most of all those achievement’s.
2) Jan Paul van Hecke – 7.83
Voted WAB August Player of the Month, Van Hecke falls just short of completing an opening month double. Some phenomenal last man interventions against United and Arsenal ensured Brighton only conceded one goal apiece to those members of the European Super League Elite Six.
3) Joel Veltman – 7.66
Veltman’s biggest contribution to August 2024 was getting Declan Rice sent off and sparking an unbelievable collective meltdown from Arsenal fans everywhere. Spooking the Gunners aside, he gave three assured performances to suggest he can remain an important player with Hurzeler at the helm.
4) Bart Verbruggen – 7.45
Missed the first two games of the campaign injured. The Dutch number one was busier than he might have expected against Crawley. Went onto make some hugely important saves at Arsenal, justifying Hurzeler’s decision to start him even though Jason Steele had done nothing to warrant being dropped from Premier League duty.
5) Danny Welbeck – 7.45
Welbz is Dat Guy. Scored at Everton and then got his traditional goal against former club United. It is telling of how good an August 2024 Brighton had when Welbeck gets nominated for Official Premier League Player of the Month but only finishes fifth in the WAB Brighton Player Ratings.
6) Karou Mitoma – 7.34
We all wondered if Mitoma would return the same player after missing the final three months of last season with a back injury. The answer so far has been a resounding yes. Goal at Everton, assist against United and gave Ben White such a run around when the Albion went to Arsenal that the former Seagull defender’s fake tan started sweating off.
7) Jason Steele – 7.19
Hurzeler has nailed his colours firmly to the Verbruggen being number one mast. Being the ultimate professional, you know Steele will not complain about it. Rock-solid showings against Everton and United serve as a reminder that he is the perfect number two.
8) Carlos Baleba – 6.90
The best player on the pitch in the Creepy Crawley game. Brought much-needed energy when introduced against United. And then made the most of his first Premier League start of the campaign at Arsenal. The sale of Billy Gilmour gives Baleba a chance to make himself undroppable.
9) Billy Gilmour – 6.88
Gilmour signed off in style before his £12 million move to Napoli with a mesmerising display in the win over United. Brighton could have demanded double that based on his performance against the Red Devils and it would not have looked unreasonable.
10) Simon Adingra – 6.72
Replaced in the starting XI by Minteh, King of AFCON Adingra responded in the best manner possible. Scored at Everton. Set up Pedro for the winner over United. Scored again against Crawley. It was enough to see him nudge ahead of Minteh in the Brighton August 2024 Player Ratings.
11) Yankubu Minteh – 6.72
Marked his Albion debut by teeing up Mitoma for the opening goal of the campaign. It was then his shot against Arsenal which was saved by David Raya, presenting Pedro with a rebound to gobble up. Went missing a bit in the United game but he is only 19-years-old. Inconsistency is to be expected at that age, especially from a winger.
12) Lewis Dunk – 6.69
The Brighton captain was outshone by Van Hecke in the August 2024 Player Ratings; something we may well have to get used to from now on. Still managed to play the best pass of the month with that 70-yard grounded through ball to send Minteh clear of the Arsenal defence in the build up to the Albion equaliser.
13) Julio Enciso – 6.68
A slow start to the season on account of his international exploits at the Olympics. One outrageous piece of skill teed up Jeremy Sarmiento to score in the Crawley game.
14) Yasin Ayari – 6.64
Ayari looked a prime candidate for another loan this season coming off the back of an indifferent spell at Blackburn Rovers. Instead, he has forced himself into Hurzeler’s first team squad. Neat and tidy so far, it will be intriguing to see how much he features when all the new signings are available.
15) Jeremy Sarmiento – 6.54
Decent contribution as a substitute in the Everton win and scored his first Brighton goal when providing the Albion’s second against Crawley. Packed off on loan to Burnley after that for another season of Championship football.
16) Adam Webster – 6.38
Webster is no longer a first choice but he still has an important role to play in the squad. Did a fine job coming off the bench at Everton and then scored as captain in the Crawley game.
17) Mats Wieffer – 6.33
Grew into proceedings against Everton after a slow start in which he seemed taken by the speed and physicality of the Premier League. Has not been seen since after picking up a minor knock.
18) Mark O’Mahony – 6.21
Picked the pocket of a Crawley defender and finished the opportunity he had created for himself to net his first Albion goal with shades of Evan Ferguson on New Year’s Eve 2022 against Arsenal. Will spend the rest of the 2024-25 at Sheffield Wednesday.
19) Tariq Lamptey – 6.14
Lamptey’s only football so far has come in the League Cup. With his contract set to expire in the summer, he faces an uncertain future at the Amex.
20) Jack Hinshelwood – 6.10
Hinshelwood being this far down the Brighton August 2024 Player Ratings comes as something of a surprise. The price you pay for being played out-of-position at left back up against the likes of Bukayo Saka and Amad Diallo?
21) Igor Julio – 6.14
Igor! Igor! Igor! The one player the thugs of Crawley dared not go near on account of him being carved out of granite.
22) James Milner – 6.07
Deep joy all round as Hurzeler has already realised playing Milner as a full back in the Premier League 72 years after he made his first top flight appearance is a disaster waiting to happen. His experience has been useful in the middle of the park, with this low rating presumably impacted by his early withdrawal at Arsenal.
23) Jensen Weir – 6.00
The most striking thing about his cameo against Crawley was how tall he is. Not that Brighton fans will see that height again. Weir completed a move back to Wigan Athletic on a permanent deal on the final day of the transfer window.
24) Georginio Rutter – 5.96
Two substitute appearances late in games is not enough time to judge Rutter yet. Although it is probably not unreasonable to expect a £40 million forward to do better with the late chance he had at Arsenal…
25) Odel Offiah – 5.71
Newphew of rugby legend Martin Offiah came off the bench against Crawley. Now on loan at Blackpool. Poor bastard.
26) Cameron Peupion – 5.71
Looked visibly reluctant to be taking a corner in the Crawley game because nobody else would. But then he swung it over, Webster headed home and all was right in the world.
27) Pervis Estupinan – 5.60
Two chaotic substitute appearances from Estupinan against Crawley and Arsenal. Good to have him and the chaos he brings down the left flank back.
28) Matt O’Riley – 5.29
Signed for £25 million from Celtic on Monday. Injured playing Crawley on Tuesday. Ankle surgery on Thursday. It might sound like a shit version of ‘7 Days’ by Craig David, but it is actually O’Riley’s Albion career so far.
29) Imari Samuels – 5.29
Struggled in the first half of the Crawley game on the rare occasions the Red Devils attempted to play football rather than UFC.
The August 2024 Brighton Player Ratings have been 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.
