Vote for your September 2021 WAB Brighton Player of the Month

Right, let us address what is sure to be a huge point of controversy before we get anywhere else with the September 2021 WAB Brighton Player of the Month.

Yves Bissouma is not on the shortlist for two reasons. The first is that he missed the Crystal Palace game. It was bloody noticeable too as the Albion gave their worst performance of the season, being largely overrun in midfield without the presence of the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League.

The second is that we do not want to risk these Player of the Month awards becoming like the National Television Awards where Ant & Dec win every year. That is the territory we are in danger of straying into, Bissouma being that good that he was voted into first place in August, May, and April – an unprecedented three triumphs in a row.

Besides, September offered up plenty of other candidates thanks to an unbeaten month leaving the Albion one point off top spot. Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay both scored goals right at the death to secure a 1-0 win at Brentford and a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace respectively.

Marc Cucurella has made such an impact that barbers across Sussex are reporting a hundredfold increase in men asking for the Sideshow Bob look.

Shane Duffy’s renaissance has continued at pace, Lewis Dunk has been imperious at the back and Robert Sanchez deserves to make the list just for the surreal sight of seeing his ice cool demeanour melt away as he became completely unhinged following Maupay’s goal at Selhurst.

These are heady times to be a Brighton fan and nothing sums that up better than the lack of qualms over omitting Bissouma from the September 2021 Player of the Month shortlist. So in the absence of Yves, who is going to win it?

The candidates for WeAreBrighton.com September 2021 Brighton Player of the Month

Marc Cucurella
The £15 million signing from Getafe has already showed us many sides to his game. Solid defensively at Brentford, electric going forward in the 2-1 win over Leicester and some dark arts at Palace when he picked up a booking for a blood-and-thunder foul most suitable for derby day. He already looks some capture.

Shane Duffy
Second place behind Bissouma in our August 2021 Player of the Month, can King Shane go one better this time? Lots of questions would have been asked about the Albion’s summer striker policy had Odsonne Édouard notched for Palace. Instead, Édouard had to settle for a quiet full Eagles debut as Duffy marked his former Celtic teammate out the game. Duffy’s towering header had earned the penalty against Leicester eight days earlier.

Lewis Dunk
Brighton faced two of the Premier League’s most dangerous marksmen in September. A clean sheet against Ivan Toney and Brentford and Jamie Vardy only scoring once at the Amex represented a job well done for the Albion captain and his defence.

Neal Maupay
He had a good opening month to the 2020-21 season before tailing off. Those wondering whether 2021-22 would be a repeat have been answered in emphatic style. A convincing penalty against Leicester was followed by a cool, calm and composed finish to salvage a draw at Palace. He has looked like a new player in the current campaign and long may it continue.

Robert Sanchez
Vardy was the only man to beat him from open play in September. The full stretch tip onto the bar against Leicester was a seriously underrated save, without which Brighton would not have beaten for the Foxes. As for his work at Selhurst – solid handling, ridiculous distribution and then offered out half the Palace team and the entire Holmesdale End afterwards. Sensational.

Leandro Trossard
His winner against Brentford was a brilliant example of what he can do, mixing skill to beat a couple of Bees alongside intelligence in waiting to shoot until the perfect moment presented itself. Claimed an assist with a pinpoint free kick headed home by Danny Welbeck in the Leicester win but the less said about his tackle on Conor Gallagher in the box at Palace, the better.

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Poll closes at 8pm on Sunday 3rd October