The WAB Brighton Power Rankings: December 2021
December 2021 was a month of last minute goals for Brighton, so it may come as something as a surprise to see a defender leading the way as the best Albion player in the WAB Power Rankings.
In fact, make that two defenders and a goalkeeper in the top three. In first place was Marc Cucurella, second place Tariq Lamptey and third place Robert Sanchez.
Cucurella and Lamptey of course are not your normal type of defender. Both can be as devastating going forward as they are solid at the back. They were also remarkably consistent in December, which always helps boost a player’s ranking.
The main source of last minute goals was Neal Maupay, who sits fifth in the list. Maupay scored that stunning bicycle kick at West Ham followed by a clever striker in the final seconds at Southampton, earning the Albion two points which ultimately felt more like victories because of the drama.
His mark though appears to be impacted by missing the 1-0 defeat against Wolves. Without Maupay, Brighton looked utterly toothless when facing the Old Gold in front of a half empty Amex in the most miserable experience of the 2021-22 campaign so far.
Jakub Moder snuck above Maupay into fourth spot, highlighting that perhaps underrated role he does. But enough of the spoilers – here are your WAB December Power Rankings, scoring all 22 players to have pulled on the stripes over the course of the month.
1) Marc Cucurella – 72.38 points
An exciting performer whenever deployed at left wing back, we saw another string to Cucurella’s bow at Chelsea when Graham Potter elected to use him as one of the three central defenders. Looked as if he had been playing there all his life and even found time to pop up on the edge of the Chelsea box late on, providing a brilliant cross for Danny Welbeck to level against the European Champions. Paul Merson said afterwards that the Blues should sign Cucurella. If he keeps on playing like this, it will not be long until serious interest comes in from one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
2) Tariq Lamptey – 69.63
Came off the bench at West Ham to set up Maupay for that dramatic late equaliser. Like Cucurella, his best performance came at Stamford Bridge where former club Chelsea could only resort to trying to kick him off the park as a means of stopping him. Antonio Rudiger should have seen red inside of half hour, somehow getting away with a caution. Mateo Kovačić followed Rudiger into the book in the second half.
3) Robert Sanchez – 66.87
Put a shaky November behind him with a much improved December to reaffirm his place as one of the best young goalkeepers in the country. Made two important stops at West Ham to ensure the stage was set for Maupay’s goal to mean something. Prevented Wolves racking up a three or four goal winning margin and then pulled off two brilliant saves in the space of five minutes in the 2-0 win over Brentford, without which Boxing Day against the Bees may have ended very differently.
4) Jakub Moder – 63.88
A Brighton player who goes about his business with quiet efficiency, Moder has consistently finished in the top five of the WAB Power Rankings this season – here he is again in December – with his best month being a first placed finish in August. If he can start adding goals to his game, imagine what might be possible.
5) Neal Maupay – 62.30
Oh, Neal! Three goals from four appearances were enough to see him voted as our WAB December 2021 Player of the Month. The West Ham strike and his goal against Brentford were spectacular. The chance he took at Southampton was the result of great football intelligence, stealing a few extra yards from James Ward-Prowse to be onside and in the right place at the right time when it mattered most. Seven goals for the season means he is only one behind his entire 2020-21 with half of the current campaign still to play.
6) Yves Bissouma – 57.56
Seemed to put the, er, troubles of the autumn behind him with increasingly domineering performances that were reminiscent of the Bissouma who won WAB Player of the Year last season. His finest display came at Chelsea, where he was the best midfielder on the park. No mean feat against a side with as much quality as the Blues.
7) Dan Burn – 55.43
A Brighton player who was struggled a little for fitness this season, he started four out of five games in December for his best run of minutes of the campaign. Colossal at Stamford Bridge, marking Romelu Lukaku out of the game to the point where the £97 million striker said in an interview a few days later that he wished he had never left Inter Milan.
8) Adam Lallana – 53.82
At the heart of everything good Brighton did when beating Brentford and took that form into the Chelsea match. He had an important role to play leadership wise in December, taking over the captaincy with Lewis Dunk out injured. It was clear first hand the difference his experience makes when he was only deemed fit enough to sit on the bench against Wolves and the Albion looked rudderless.
9) Enock Mwepu – 52.68
Struggled against Southampton and Wolves but went onto look magnificent in the Brentford win and at Chelsea. Such inconsistency is to be expected as he is still a young player adapting to English football. The perfectly lofted pass over the Bees defence and into the path of Leandro Trossard was a thing of absolute beauty.
10) Leandro Trossard – 52.16
His first time volley without breaking stride from the aforementioned Mwepu pass was a fantastic way to get the Boxing Day evening party started. Other than that, it was a quieter month compared to his normal high standards, with injury scares when he was stretchered off at St Mary’s and then missing the Chelsea match.
11) Joel Veltman – 51.60
The Dutchman had his position changed more times than Boris Johnson’s on Downing Street lockdown parties. Usually, that does not bother him but something did not look quite right – until he gave his best showing of December (and perhaps his Brighton career) when helping to ensure Chelsea went over an hour without having a shot, reminding everyone what a classy player he is.
12) Solly March – 50.88
Deployed in a more forward role after replacing the injured Jeremy Sarmiento at West Ham and then from the start at Wolves. That does not seem to suit him and it was no surprise that one of his most impressive showings of the season came against Chelsea when restored to his favoured left wing back berth.
13) Alexis Mac Allister – 41.06
Mac Allister needed patience in December as he started the month picking splinters out of his arse on the bench. A starting opportunity arrived against Brentford and he duly took it, earning the right to stay in the team for Chelsea. Two fine performances and the challenge now is to make himself undroppable in January.
14) Danny Welbeck – 29.85
A place in the history books for Dat Guy as he became the first ever Brighton player to score a league goal away against Chelsea. It was a brilliant header too, the type of finish only he in this Albion squad is capable of.
15) Shane Duffy – 26.50
Came off the bench when Adam Webster limped off at West Ham and started at Southampton before missing Wolves through suspension. Arguably the best Brighton player this season had to settle for a December watching brief after that.
16) Adam Webster – 26.29
Cannot seem to catch a break from injuries this season. It seemed a little foolish that he tried to battle on initially after pulling up in the first half of the 1-1 draw at West Ham. Returned against Brentford, where he dealt well with the threat of Ivan Toney. Rested for the trip to Chelsea.
17) Steve Alzate 25.37
Made his return from three months out with an ankle injury picked up in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in September, coming off the bench against Brentford and Chelsea. Almost added an Albion third against the Bees within minutes of his introduction.
18) Pascal Gross – 22.50
Just the one start for the German playmaker in December, coming at Southampton were he struggled to make much impact. Missed Wolves as one of the suspected positive Covid-19 cases in the camp.
19) Aaron Connolly – 19.09
Injuries and Covid-19 gave him a chance to start against Wolves. He responded to the opportunity by posting the lowest WAB Player Rating of the season, scoring a 3.55. Ended December living his best life by checking into a posh Middlesbrough hotel (if such a thing exists) ahead of a loan move to the Championship, where he really needs to start scoring goals and grow up a bit.
20) Lewis Dunk – 12.83
The breaking news early in December that Dunk was injured and Brighton would have to cope for up to six weeks without their best player initially looked like a hammer blow. Such are the defensive options available to Potter that the Albion have made light work of their captain’s absence. One win, two draws and one defeat is a better record than most would have dreamed of.
21) Jeremy Sarmiento – 11.00
There was a great deal of excitement when the teenager was given a full Premier League debut at the London Stadium. Unfortunately, it lasted no more than 15 minutes before he left the field injured. Surgery was required on his hamstring with a return unlikely before April. Football can be a cruel game sometimes.
22) Taylor Richards – 9.82
A brief cameo against Wolves as Brighton hoped to force what would have been an undeserved equaliser. Has since joined Birmingham City on loan, looking to build on his promising season spent with Doncaster Rovers in 2020-21.
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.
