WAB Power Rankings: Finding the best Brighton player in March 2022
Never have the WAB Power Rankings been needed more than in March 2022 to tell us who the best Brighton player was following a disappointing three games and a peculiar Player of the Month poll.
The Albion picked up a grand total of zero points as their form fell off a cliff. More concerning was that only goal was scored.
That came from a Lewis Dunk header away in the 2-1 defeat away at Newcastle United. In home losses to Liverpool and Spurs, Brighton mustered just one shot on target across 180 minutes.
So poor was the football that Kaoru Mitoma was voted our WAB Brighton Player of the Month for March despite not being able to work legally in Britain.
Referee Mike Dean came second in the award thanks to his incredible decision not to send Robert Sanchez for an early bath in the game against Jurgen Klopp’s title chasers.
Seemingly, no actual Albion footballer impressed enough to garner more votes than a Japanese striker currently on-loan in Belgium and a once-despised referee.
With the Player of the Month poll useless in telling us who were the best for Brighton in March, it is down to the Power Rankings to do the job.
1) Marc Cucurella – 62.38
His attacking instincts might have been clipped by Graham Potter using him as an orthodox left back or as one of three central defenders, but he still managed to be the best of a bad bunch in March. If Albion fans have any sense (and supporters of 1996 Coca Cola Cup runners up The Leeds United don’t rig the poll) then he should be winning Player of the Season in a few months.
2) Solly March – 59.80
March finished third behind Mitoma and Mr Dean in the aforementioned Player of the Month poll. His return to the starting XI and being one of the few players who wanted to do something other than pass the ball sideways was one of the few bright spots of March.
3) Pascal Gross – 59.40
A typically pinpoint set piece delivery meant that Gross provided the assist for the only goal Brighton scored. Results over the past two seasons have been better when he is in the starting XI, making it somewhat strange and a little concerning that he is out of contract in June.
4) Alexis Mac Allister – 56.87
The best Brighton player on the pitch against Liverpool in the second game of March, thanks largely to that incredible Maradona turn which flummoxed two Reds players. Sadly overshadowed shortly after by Sanchez turning into Shawn Michaels and dishing out some Sweet Chin Music to Luis Diaz.
5) Joel Veltman – 55.79
Mr Dependable remained pretty dependable even as the Albion collapsed. March 2022 could probably be summed up by the fact that he was one of the better Brighton performers in defeat at Newcastle, even though the player he was marking was Ryan Fraser, who scored one of the Toon’s goals and set the other up.
6) Lewis Dunk – 55.52
A towering header at St James’ Park represented Brighton’s only goal of the month. Still way below par since returning from injury, part of the reason why the Albion’s normally reliable defence have started leaking goals at an alarming rate.
7) Leandro Trossard – 53.89
Has taken his normal winter hibernation a little later this year, choosing to disappear in March when Spring is just around the corner. Goal scoring chances were in short supply but he should have done better with of the rare opportunities he did have which was repelled by Martin Dubravka at Newcastle.
8) Danny Welbeck – 52.06
Offered a different outlet to how we are used to seeing Brighton line up in attack as a traditional target man for the trip to Newcastle. Did enough in two subsequent substitute appearances against Liverpool and Spurs to finish quite high up the rankings compared to his normal placing.
9) Neal Maupay – 51.75
Potter says that he drops Maupay to incentivise him but it rarely works. If anything, it has the complete opposite impact on a confidence player. We saw that again in March when he was left out away at Newcastle and then poor in the subsequent two matches, having scored goals and been in good form throughout January and the beginning of February.
10) Tariq Lamptey – 49.67
Two factors contribute to Lamptey’s low score. One is that he is no longer being used as a right wing back thanks to Potter’s shift in formation, the position he always terrorises opponents from. The other is that he looks tired, which should not really come as a surprise. He has played a lot of football since returning from nine months out injured.
11) Robert Sanchez – 49.37
More than a few questionable moments throughout March for a young player suffering the first wobble of his Brighton career. Owes Mr Dean some sort of Toby Carvery voucher for not sending him off despite kicking Diaz in the head during the first half against Liverpool.
12) Steve Alzate – 40.75
What an enigma Alzate is. The best Brighton player on the pitch at Newcastle, followed by looking like a lost dog a week later when Liverpool came to town. Needs to develop consistency if he is ever to hold down a place, especially with midfield rivals like Moises Caicedo and Kacper Kozlowski waiting in the wings.
13) Yves Bissouma – 37.22
Has he downed tools because Brighton turned down a big money January bid from Aston Villa? Or is he playing at 50 percent because he knows he is going to be sold in the summer? Something was not right during March, resulting in him being an unused sub at Newcastle and being hauled after just over an hour in the Liverpool and Spurs matches.
14) Jakub Moder – 31.90
A player who paid for the poor form of the team by losing his place in the starting XI. Came off after 60 minutes against Newcastle with Brighton admittedly looking much better following his withdrawal. His only other minutes were as a sub in the Spurs defeat.
15) Shane Duffy – 31.43
His blistering form from the opening few months of the season seems like a lifetime ago now. Potter does not rate him to the point where the Albion manager is willing to forsake his best formation to not name Duffy in the XI. Struggled at Newcastle and then came up against a Harry Kane in irresistible form for Tottenham.
16) Adam Lallana – 9.72
Blink and you missed Lallana in March – quite literally. He came on at half time of the Liverpool defeat and lasted seven minutes before walking off injured. Anyone who took a little too long enjoying a pint or an Amex Stadium wine would never have known he even played.
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.
