Roker Report's Player Of The Month: Wes Brown

I was in the process of writing an article looking at the scores we've given players after the game in our match report, and seeing who is doing rubbish, who's doing the best and so forth. How players rank in comparison to the team etc.

The numbers didn't make for anything particularly interesting, so I decided to change it up a little. From August 13th to September 10th is pretty much give or take, a month. Certainly a five game cycle should warrant a month anyway, so after much deliberation, and not just picking someone at random, I give you our Player Of The Month, based on our own snap post-match judgement... Wes Brown.

Wes Brown then, a relatively easy choice some would say given the distinct lack of quality around him, and perhaps the stand-out performance of any SAFC player this season at Liverpool, where was solid as a rock, and gave an absolute masterclass in defending.

Brown struggled to live up to the high standards set against both Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion where he looked sluggish and off the pace, however he did get back up to speed against both Swansea where he was imperious, and for his first half performance alone garnered a good mark against Chelsea, a day where nobody particularly stood out.

Somewhat surprisingly, Brown has featured in every game so far this season, one of only four players to achieve that so far, the others being Kieran Richardson, Stephane Sessegnon and Jack Colback. Not too bad for a player we all thought was a massive injury risk when he arrived on Wearside in the summer.

Brown has definitely impressed me. His leadership has been admirable at SAFC, whilst his composure and know how even managed to make Anton Ferdinand into a very competent Premier League defender. Here's hoping he stays fit, and he's been our shining light so far this season. 

Here's what the rest of the Roker Reportee's had to say of Brown...

Michael Graham: "No shock at all to see Brown come out on top this month. His stoic defensive resolve has been just about the only thing we've been able to depend upon during what has been a largely miserable start to the season"

Dan Williams: "Absolutely no surprise to me that Brown has come out on top in our inaugural Player of the Month feature. He's proved an assured an experienced head in a defence that, over the years, has been filled with hesitancy and poor mistakes. Admittedly, we haven't been water tight, but his class is evident for all to see, he reads the game excellently and he his calming influence was almost certainly the reason behind Ferdinand's resurgence. All in all, the guy is everywhere, it's like there are two of him on the pitch at times."

David Boyle: "Wes has been a breath of fresh air since joining the side and for me immediately put to bed any of the ridiculous speculation upon his arrival that he was here for one last payday and was well past his best with a Varga-esq debut at Anfield (Christ I hope I haven't cursed the lad). Players that have come through the ranks at Old Trafford have a "winning mentality" bred into them from the moment they sign their contract and you can see this rubbing off on the players around Wes, Ferdinand especially looked a much better player than we had ever seen before alongside Brown. Hopefully once O'Shea is up and running he can have the same influence upon the side both on the field of play and at the academy."

Chris Weatherspoon: "Solid, no nonsense, took £35m away from Anfield in his back pocket. Those who suggested he was crap need only eat an enormous slice of Humble Pie - no-one who stays at Old Trafford that long, and wins that many trophies can be crap. Provided whoever plays alongside keeps their focus too (even Anton managed it) then we'll do alright. We're in dire need of a solid spine, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him handed the captains armband soon as Catts seems to be falling out of favour."

As for his team-mates, here's how we've felt they've done this month. Again, these are the averages of the scores we ourselves have given them post-match in our match reports. A better way we feel of deciding, rather than be influenced by one amazing performance...

And there you have it everyone, Wesley Brown is our first ever Player Of The Month, and fully deserved I think you'll agree. Everyone starts a fresh again against Stoke City this coming weekend, so hopefully, this is the start of a new chapter as aside from Brown & Sessegnon, nobody has really had anything to shout about.