Vote for your WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month for April 2015
One point out of a possible 18 and one goal scored represented Brighton and Hove Albion’s worst month of a wretched 2015-16 season that is petering out into complete and utter pointlessness.
In reality, the only reason the Albion have survived the drop into League One is due to the fact there are somehow three worse teams in the division in the form of Blackpool, Wigan Athletic and Millwall. We didn’t even manage to secure survival ourselves, relying instead on Blackburn Rovers 2-0 win over the Lions to ensure that there aren’t trips to Burton Albion and Fleetwood Town on the cards next season.
That reliance on Blackburn coupled with the paucity of Brighton players who have done anything good this month means that our April shortlist contains Rudy Gustede and Jordan Rhodes who were Rovers’ scorers in their victory over Millwall.
The month’s point came from a 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town – a game in which we managed zero shots on target – while Dale Stephens was the only man who managed to net in the six games played and Danny Holla the only man who managed an assist. Holla was rewarded for that by being dropped completely from the 18 man squad for the following game against Watford.
As such, picking the winner of the final Player of the Month poll is like deciding what limb you want to lose. Good luck choosing.
Joe Bennett
Started every game and looked particularly lively in the new-look 3-5-2 formation that Chris Hughton deployed in the defeat against Watford. He played his part in the months only clean sheet and point against Huddersfield Town.
Inigo Calderon
Took the club’s official Player of the Season award and when asked to name his highlight of the campaign at the awards ceremony, could only stare blankly into space which just about summed up this 2015-16 season. One of the only positives has been his reinvention as a right midfielder where he continues to do a job.
Rudy Gustede
Didn’t play at all for Brighton throughout April due to the fact he is actually a Blackburn Rovers player. He did however score the opening goal in their 2-0 win over Millwall which saved the Albion from relegation to League One.
Danny Holla
It says much when a bloke who wasn’t even named in the match day squad for the first four games, was then handed a start at Wigan Athletic, set up Dale Stephens for April’s only goal and then found himself dropped from the 18 again for Watford can make the shortlist. But he does, purely based on one assist.
Beram Kayal
One of the only players in the squad to actually look Championship quality in April, he must be wondering what on Earth he is doing here. The Isreali international won last months Player of the Month poll and he was class again in each appearance bar a rare off day at Rotherham United.
Jordan Rhodes
Didn’t play at all for Brighton throughout April due to the fact he is actually a Blackburn Rovers player. He did however score the second goal in their 2-0 win over Millwall which saved the Albion from relegation to League One.
David Stockdale
At fault for the second goal at Wigan and some very questionable positioning saw him concede afree kick at home to Bournemouth. He has still pulled off some vital saves however and has been in excellent form on Twitter, picking fights with both our We Are Brighton Twitter account and Adam Virgo over the last couple of weeks.
Dale Stephens
One of the few things Chris Hughton has got right this month is identifying that the midfield needs to be built around him and Kayal and they continued their promising partnership. He scored the only goal of the month with a delightful volley at Wigan.
