Vote for your November 2024 WAB Brighton Player of the Month

December 3, 2024December 3, 2024 WeAreBrighton.com 0 Comments

Brighton ended November 2024 in fourth spot in the Premier League, a superb achievement for every player involved so far this season and Fabian Hurzeler.

It is the highest position the Albion have ever occupied in the football pyramid after 13 games of a campaign. And it was secured thanks to only one defeat out of four through November.

That came in the opening game of the month at Anfield. Brighton gave runaway leaders Liverpool a real fright, leading 1-0 up until a quickfire double midway through the second half saw the Redmen to a 2-1 victory.

Next came one of the greatest nights the Amex Stadium has seen. Four-in-a-row champions Manchester City were defeated 2-1 thanks to a game-changing performance from substitute Joao Pedro.

The result sparked a Pep Guardiola meltdown at full time as he confronted Jan Paul van Hecke. Only a few days earlier and Guardiola had sung the praises of Hurzeler and the Albion.

Once again, the shiny bonced Catalonia showed it is easy to be complimentary about opponents when you are used to beating them. Less so when they pull off shock results against you. Stay classy, Pep.

Brighton then went and recorded a victory away at Plucky Little Bournemouth which was arguably even more surprising than their success over City.

The Albion had only won two league matches in 30 years at the Vitality Stadium before Hurzeler delivered a 2-1 win over the Cherries.

That impressive result was followed up in true Brighton style by a 1-1 home draw against bottom club Southampton.

The Saints were without an away point all season before arriving at the Amex. They might have even left with all three had a controversial VAR decision not ruled out a second Southampton goal eight minutes after their equaliser.

The candidates for WeAreBrighton.com November 2024 Brighton Player of the Month

Igor Julio

Igor, Igor, Igor! The most telling thing about Igor’s form through November is that even when Lewis Dunk was fit and available to return, the Brighton captain had to settle for a place on the bench against Southampton. It was the first time in his 250 Premier League appearances that Dunk had been a used substitute.

Kaoru Mitoma

Best month of the season so far for the Japanese Bullet Train. Scored past Bournemouth and Southampton and gave England’s two first choice right backs in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker a torrid time.

Joao Pedro

Talk about a big impact on his return from injury. Scored the equaliser against City and set up Matt O’Riley for the winner. Repeated the trick by also scoring and assisting at Bournemouth, the second of those actions coming via a world class through ball latched onto by Mitoma.

Jan Paul van Hecke

Igor filled the boots of the injured Dunk seamlessly in terms of replacing him as left sided centre back. Van Hecke meanwhile stepped up as a leader in the absence of the Albion captain. So much so that he was the player singled out by Guardiola when the City manager gracelessly lost his mind.

Joel Veltman

The most underrated right back in the Premier League according to Hurzeler. And he is right. Veltman faced a series of tricky assignments with all of Liverpool, City and even Bournemouth possessing dangerous left wingers. His performances were a major reason why Brighton picked up enough points to sit fourth in the table come the end of the month.

Bart Verbruggen

Verbruggen’s numbers put him amongst the best goalkeepers in the league. But you do not need statistics to tell you that. Crucial saves at big moments in the City and Bournemouth wins secured victories which otherwise could have ended in defeat without him. Little wonder Bayern Munich are the latest European giant to be linked.