WAB Power Rankings: Finding the best Brighton player in May 2022
An unbeaten May gave Brighton a strong finish to a record-breaking 2021-22 season, officially the best in Albion history thanks to the efforts of every player involved.
Home wins over top seven opponents Manchester United and West Ham provided a final flourish, moving Brighton onto five victories at the Amex for the season.
Having scored only 12 goals in front of their own supporters prior to Cristiano Ronaldo and co arriving in Sussex, the Albion went onto notch seven in their final two home fixtures.
If only they had been that ruthless over the previous 17 Amex matches, then we might have needed to dust off our passports for a European tour in 2022-33.
Sandwiched between those excellent victories was a decent 1-1 draw at 1996 Coca Cola Cup runners up The Leeds United.
Despite being the biggest football club in the world, the Peacocks were fighting for their Premier League life and a raucous Elland Road presented a challenging atmosphere for a young Brighton squad to contend with. A point in such circumstances had to be looked upon as a good one.
On another note, May ends up being something of an historic month for our WAB Power Rankings. In the two seasons we have been using them to find the best Brighton player, never before have two individuals achieved the exact same score.
Incredibly, it has happened twice this month. Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck sit joint fourth on 83.16 with Moises Caicedo and Yves Bissouma sharing seventh spot on 76.78. What are the chances?
Only 0.18 points separated the top three in our WAB April Power Rankings. The margin this time was slightly bigger at 0.52, highlighting that the past two months have seen Albion players put in consistently good performances to lift the club into the dizzy heights of ninth in the Premier League.
But who came out on top as the best Brighton player in May 2022? Let us reveal all.
1) Joel Veltman – 84.39
The Dutchman enjoyed an excellent May at both ends of the pitch. He kept Ronaldo quiet in the 4-0 win over Manchester United and followed that up by edging an intriguing battle against Michail Antonio of West Ham, even if Antonio did give the Irons the lead five minutes before half time. Five minutes after half time and Veltman levelled the tie with his first goal of the season, setting the ball rolling on the Albion’s second half comeback.
2) Marc Cucurella – 84.06
Undoubtedly the best Brighton player this season, before May you could only have one real criticism of him – he had not scored a goal. Put that right in glorious fashion with the second against United before having a little cry in front of the North Stand. Just when you thought you could not love him anymore.
3) Robert Sanchez – 83.87
Sanchez has suffered dips in form throughout the season but he finished strongly. Made some big saves in the final 30 minutes against United when they belatedly did some attacking. Without his three world class stops at Elland Road, Brighton would have come away from The Leeds United with nothing to show for their efforts.
4) Pascal Gross – 83.16
We wait with baited breath for Herr Gross to sign that new contract which Graham Potter suggested was close. Scored a cool, calm and collected goal against Man United and followed that up with a very different type of finish on the turn into the top corner from outside the area when West Ham came to town. A worthy winner of our WAB May Player of the Month vote.
4) Danny Welbeck – 83.16
Welbz is Dat Guy. Like Gross, he is out of contract next month. And like Gross, he scored twice in an excellent May. The dinked finish at The Leeds United was classic Welbeck and the powerful header against West Ham a reminder of how good he is in the air. Ended the season in his best form for many years. If he stays fit and carries it into 2022-23, Brighton could scale even greater heights.
5) Lewis Dunk – 80.24
His leadership was very much needed when the Albion found themselves coming under increasing pressure at Elland Road as The Leeds United chased an equaliser. Whisper it quietly, but he perhaps should have done better for both the Peacocks later leveller that day and when getting outmuscled by Antonio for the West Ham opener. To play a part in pocketing Ronaldo though is no mean feat.
6) Alexis Mac Allister – 77.69
The Argentinian has become a much more rounded midfielder over the course of the campaign, capable of fulfilling virtually any role in the middle of the park. Put that new found versatility to good use with strong performances as a number 10, a traditional central midfielder and even in the holding role.
7) Yves Bissouma – 76.78
Departed the West Ham win at half time with the Albion looking much better in his absence. His assist at The Leeds United was easily the best of May and perhaps the season, one that no other Brighton player would be capable of. Winning possession on the edge of the Seagulls box, he then strode 40 yards forward and played a perfectly weighted through ball to send Welbeck clear.
7) Moises Caicedo – 76.78
Did not quite hit the heights he managed in April but that is no criticism as he was ridiculous last month. Opened his Albion account with a crisp drive through a crowd of players to get the party started against United. More impressive was that he marked Declan Rice out of the second half of the West Ham game, after Rice had run the show when up against Bissouma in the first 45 minutea.
9) Solly March – 75.07
With Cucurella pretty much undroppable, March has reinvented himself once again as a right wing back. Three starts and three solid performances, with his trickery and skill offering a different threat to opponents compared with the raw speed of Tariq Lamptey.
10) Adam Webster – 74.71
An injury hit campaign was rounded off with two substitutes outings and a start against West Ham which contained a few hairy moments. A good pre-season under his belt and hopefully he will return for 2022-23 in the sort of form that had him in England contention before his February injury.
11) Leandro Trossard – 52.47
The Vampire of Genk gave one of those performances where you can imagine him thriving for one of the best clubs in Europe in the hammering of United. He tricked and teased the Red Devils defence all evening, scoring once and assisting twice. Less effective at The Leeds United and missed the West Ham win through illness.
12) Neal Maupay – 49.43
Oh, Neal! He finished the campaign as Brighton top scorer but barely featured in May, a player whose best months came at the start of the campaign. Two substitute appearances saw him put in plenty of effort without much end product or reward. With Deniz Undav to come in and Potter favouring only one striker since March, it will be interesting to see what happens with Maupay this summer.
13) Tariq Lamptey – 48.25
Has found himself on the bench in recent weeks, a sensible move from Potter as he protects a fragile player in his comeback season after nine months out. Another who needs a solid pre-season to fly out the traps in the next campaign, although his lack of action does at least appear to have deterred would-be suitors.
14) Enock Mwepu – 23.33
The injury he picked up at Wolves was meant to finish his season. It was a surprise then to see him on the bench against West Ham and coming on for the closing stages.
15) Adam Lallana – 18.89
If Mwepu, Caicedo and Mac Allister stay fit for next season and with Jakub Moder to return, you suspect Lallana will have to get used to a bit-part role. His one appearance of May was at The Leeds United as Potter sought to turn the tide with the experience and control Lallana brings. It worked to a certain extent, even as the hosts found their late leveller.
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.
