Vote for your WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Month for August 2019
The first month of the Graham Potter era is over and Brighton have racked up four points from four Premier League games.
But in reality, it could have been much more. The brilliant 3-0 opening day win away at Watford was followed up by a 1-1 draw against West Ham United in which VAR and the brilliance of Lukasz Fabianski denied the Albion another three points.
Florin Andone deciding to try and end the career of Yan Valery after 28 minutes of Southampton’s visit to the Amex handed the Saints three points in Sussex and there was a brave showing away at Manchester City but ultimately, the champions proved to be too good in running out 4-0 winners.
Potter has spent close to £60m this summer and of the new arrivals, Leanrdo Trossard made the biggest impression in August. He marked his home debut by being on target against the Hammers and with a little more composure in front of goal, could be on three or four by now. He even had City’s vaunted superstars worried at times at the Etihad.
Of the other standouts, three were Chris Hughton stalwarts who have put behind their dire form of the second half of last season to look like top flight footballers again – Dale Stephens and Davy Propper have both been a million times better than in the previous five months of competitive action while Solly March has thrived since his conversion to left back.
Then there’s Dan Burn. The centre half didn’t make a single league appearance under Hughton but has started all four games under Potter, winning three man-of-the-match awards. His form has led to last season’s Player of the Season Shane Duffy being dropped to make way for £18m arrival Adam Webster.
Burn even got a tweet dedicated to him from the Citizens’ Twitter account praising a first touch which drew applause from Sergio Aguero. We know who our money is on to win our first Player of the Month award of the season.
Dan Burn
Brighton bought him from Wigan Athletic a year ago. He spent the next four months on loan at the DW Stadium. And then didn’t play a minute of league football in his first five months with the Albion. It’s extraordinary that he seems to have come from absolutely nowhere to being our best defender in August, popping up on the left wing to deliver David Beckham-esque crosses and getting applauded by one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history for plucking a ball out of the air with the best first touch you’ll see this season. Outstanding.
Lewis Dunk
There’s no doubt that he’s been outshone by Burn, but the newly crowned Albion club captain has still had an impressive month. He’s blocked and headed everything as we’ve become accustomed to and he’s also thriving with the extra responsibility he’s getting in possession, as shown by that devastating 60 yard grounded pass which set up Neal Maupay for the third goal at Watford.
Solly March
He’s always been a talented player who has lacked consistency. Will that come under Potter? The move to left wing back certainly seems to have benefited him and he’s put in a string of good performances down the flank, which is why Bernardo – one of the few players to emerge from last season with any credit – has only started one league game so far.
Davy Propper
Unsurprisingly, he’s back at his classy best again now that he’s back in a two-man midfield with Stephens rather than playing as part of a three. Claimed an assist for Andone’s goal at Watford and would have had another against Southampton were it not for Jurgen Locadia having a touch heavier that David Stockdale after a stunning 50 yard cross field ball. He’s thrown in a few silky stepovers and driving runs for good measure.
Dale Stephens
Another player who has benefited from playing in a midfield two rather than being asked to play as a single holding player. He’s won back possession, created opportunities and was only denied a rare goal from a distance drive against West Ham by a brilliant Fabianski finger tip save.
Leandro Trossard
Given how we’ve become accustomed to expensive attacking signings being flops, the Belgian has been a breath of fresh air. He marked his home debut with a goal against West Ham in a game in which he ran the show. He was the best player on the pitch again against Southampton and then threatened City at the Etihad, which is something that not many people manage. It’s still early days, but the £17m forked out to Genk for his services already looks like money well spent.
Poll closes at 8pm on Sunday 8th September
