The WAB Brighton Player Power Rankings: September 2020
We have stumbled across a slight problem in the way that our WAB Power Rankings – which are supposed to decide Brighton & Hove Albion’s best player in September 2020 – are calculated.
Now, we can probably all agree that Tariq Lamptey was the stand out Seagull over the course of the first month of the 2020-21 Premier League season.
He topped our player ratings (from which these Brighton September best player rankings are calculated) for both the Chelsea and Newcastle United games, made his England Under 21 debut, was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month and was voted as our WAB Player of the Month.
And yet the flaw in our system means that he is only fifth in this month’s Power Rankings. Three Carabao Cup games in September is what has screwed Lamptey over as each player’s total score is divided by the number of matches to calculate their overall rating.
Lamptey missed three games and so his average drops significantly. Players like Pascal Gross, Leandro Trossard and Ben White who featured in both league and cup meanwhile gain by racking up more points from more appearances.
Now, we could have come up with a different way to calculate the rankings. Some of us though have a 5.9% Pilsner in the fridge and that programme starring Anna Kendrick which is on BBC iPlayer to catch up on.
So instead, you will have to make do with these somewhat flawed set of Power Rankings which in no way reflect who the best Brighton player in September was. Sorry.
1) Leandro Trossard (49.39 points)
Flawed as our September Power Rankings may have been, they did at least return a man who had an excellent September in number one spot. Leandro Trossard scored a stunner against Chelsea, claimed an assist at Newcastle and rattled the woodwork three times when Manchester United came to the Amex.
2) Pascal Gross (46.89)
The German playmaker flies into a surprise second place thanks to his efforts in the Carabao Cup combined with a couple of cameos off the bench in the Premier League. The highlight of his September came in the 2-0 win at Preston North End when he was named Der Kapitän and set up a goal with a beautiful Cruyff Gross Turn.
3) Ben White (46.72)
Officially the best Brighton defender in September according to our player ratings, he has fitted in seamlessly alongside Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster in Graham Potter’s new look back three.
4) Lewis Dunk (42.89)
Whisper it quietly, but the Albion captain has been a bit below par in September by his normal high standards. And yet he still manages to finish fourth in the WAB Power Rankings. That’s the sign of a class act.
5) Tariq Lamptey (42.69)
Should be number one in the Power Rankings, we know. Again, we can only apologise. With no Carabao Cup action to come in October, we are reasonably confident he will be in his rightful place at the top of the charts next month.
6) Solly March (39.11)
September was his best month as a Premier League player so far as he took like a duck to water to the new 3-4-1-2 formation Brighton used. That him and Lamptey down the flanks have stood out augurs well for the change in shape Potter has instigated.
7) Alireza Jahanbakhsh (38.64)
Prince Ali has been in sensational form in the Carabao Cup and that is enough to push him into seventh place. Some would say dominating against Championship and League One opposition is a sign he has found his level. Others believe it warrants a chance in the first team.
8) Steve Alzate (36.08)
The young Colombian’s sloppy pass to gift Chelsea their opener at the Amex saw him punished in the player ratings. That has lowered his average considerably, which is a shame as he was otherwise excellent in September after finally being given a run of games in the middle of the park.
9) Alexis Mac Allister (35.36)
Yet to play a minute of Premier League football in 2020-21 so far, his spot in the top 10 comes on the strength of his Carabao Cup performances with nicely taken goals against Portsmouth and Preston.
10) Neal Maupay (34.92)
It was a strange month for the striker. His score of 4.58 was the lowest in our Chelsea player ratings as his only contribution of any note was to miss an easy header from five yards. Followed that up with a brace at Newcastle and scored against United before giving away the infamous 97th minute penalty with a needless handball.
11) Adam Webster (34.83)
Not quite the assured figure that we saw post-lockdown, although the quality of opponents that Brighton face in the first three matches did little to help his cause.
12) Aaron Connolly (34.32)
Scored an excellent goal at Newcastle and ran United ragged in the Premier League game at the Amex. A promising start to a season in which he knows he needs to score more.
13) Joel Veltman (34.17)
Brighton’s £900,000 capture from Ajax was restricted to just Carabao Cup appearances in September in which he showed his versatility by playing as both a centre back and on the right. Hard to judge what he brings to the party so far.
14) Dan Burn (32.58)
The change to 3-5-2 has seen Big Dan Burn go from one of the first names on the team sheet in 2019-20 to a regular on the bench in 2020-21 so far. Delivered a series of typically dependable performances in the Carabao Cup.
15) Jason Steele (32.56)
Well, this is a turn up for the books. The goalkeeper had to put down his golf clubs and pint glass to play three times in the Carabao Cup and it was worth him diverting his attention from the 18th at Singing Hills as he achieved a higher monthly score than Maty Ryan.
16) Maty Ryan (32.47)
Not quite sure why Ryan is this low down the rankings when there was little he could do about any of the goals conceded in September – unless we have found Dale Stephens’ successor as the boo boys new favourite…
17) Viktor Gyokeres (32.28)
Given the opportunity to prove that he could provide back up and competition to Maupay and Connolly with starts in all three of the Albion’s Carabao Cup matches. He showed glimpses of talent but never really enough to suggest he is ready for the Premier League and a subsequent season long loan to Swansea City probably tells you all you need to know.
18) Bernardo (30.36)
At least we know why Potter doesn’t pick Bernardo anymore. Average at best in his three Carabao Cup performances, the 4.25 he scored in our WAB Player Ratings for the Carabao Cup tie with Manchester United was the lowest of any Brighton player in September.
19) Yves Bissouma (25.97)
Another who is in something of a false position. The Malian was excellent against Chelsea and Newcastle, right up until the moment he accidentally delivered some Sweet Chin Music to Jamal Lewis. A straight red card and three game ban ended his September after just two matches.
20) Davy Propper (22.39)
A pre-season injury restricted the Dutch midfielder to just two Carabao Cup starts. Didn’t look entirely fit in those either with his highest score of the month being a 6.83 against League One Portsmouth.
21) Haydon Roberts (21.83)
Introduced from the bench against Pompey before starting against Preston, where he showed everyone just why he is so highly rated with a performance described as “Lewis Dunk-esque”. Praise does not come much higher than that for a Brighton defender.
22) Max Sanders (21.67)
Underlined his potential by topping our WAB player ratings for the 2-0 win at Preston with a score of 8.00. Another to watch with interest.
23) Jayson Molumby (21.53)
The young Irishman gave a good account of himself out of position at right back against Pompey. Faced a much stiffer task against an experienced United midfield in the Carabao Cup exit.
24) Dale Stephens (12.22)
Just the one appearance for the long-serving midfielder in which he scored 7.33 in the win over Portsmouth. Sold to Burnley for £1 million a week later after six glorious years at the Amex.
25 Adam Lallana (10.97)
His September lasted just 43 minutes before injury struck against Chelsea. Did enough in his brief time on the pitch to suggest that he will add something new to Potter’s midfield options – providing he can get and then stay fit.
To WAB Power Rankings are formulated through our matchday player scores. To play your part in helping formulate them, make sure to follow us on Twitter and leave your post game player ratings in the relevant thread.
