Liam Bridcutt

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Liam Bridcutt
0Full Name	Liam Robert Bridcutt
0Date of Birth	8 May 1989
0Place of Birth	Reading, Berkshire, England
0Position	Defender, Midfielder
0Chelsea career	2001 - 2010
0Debut	n/a
0Games (goals)	n/a
0Other clubs	Yeovil Town (loan) Watford (loan) Stockport County (loan)

Liam Bridcutt (born 8 May 1989) is a midfielder and occasional defender who formerly played for Chelsea.

Contents 1 Pre-Chelsea career 2 Chelsea career 3 International 4 Career Statistics 5 Post Chelsea Career

Pre-Chelsea career

Liam joined Chelsea as a youngster and spent over a decade at the club.

Chelsea career

Liam was not the biggest or the quickest, but read a game very well. Naturally a defensive midfielder, he can do a fine job at centre-back as well, but put him in the middle of the park and he’s in his element. He’s a superb tackler, can pass over all distances off both feet, and possesses a decent shot.

2006-07 was his debut scholarship year, a year in which he captained the team regularly and performed superbly, often at centre-back alongside Harry Worley. His reward for an outstanding campaign was to be named Chelsea’s Scholar of the Year by his team-mates and Academy staff, and a professional contract.

After such a good season, the natural progressive aim for 2007-08 was to step up to the Reserve team and maybe earn a loan. It was a challenge Liam took up well. Captaining the Reserves with Jack Cork already out on loan, he was strolling through matches, and so at the turn of the year Yeovil Town took him on a loan for the second half of the season. He immediately impressed for a poor and struggling team, breathing energy into their midfield and earning rave reviews.

His appearances dwindled towards the end of the season for largely unknown reasons as he’d been one of the better players. At any rate, he stepped up a level when he joined Watford on loan the following season – at the request of their then manager Brendan Rodgers – and looked excellent in a Carling Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur. He struggled a bit after that, as Jack Cork took his place, and he returned to Chelsea. It was perhaps a blessing though, as under the guidance of veteran midfielder Mineiro, he began to blossom in Reserve football, looking a class apart.

For 2009-10, Liam went to Stockport County, and played well during a three-month spell at Edgeley Park. His arrival at the cash-stricken club initially provided a spark in form but the club sank to the bottom of the table, and an injury at the turn of the year cut short any potential extension to the deal.

Liam's contract expired at the end of the 2009-10 season and he was released on a free transfer.

International

Liam never represented England at any level, but was reportedly under consideration for the Under-21 squad ahead of the 2009 European Championships. A call-up failed to materialise.

He has since gone on to represent Scotland at full international level.

Career Statistics

Youth Team Football

Season	Total
	Apps	Goals
2005-06	27	2
2006-07	25	0
2007-08	1	0

Reserve Team Football

Season	Total
	Apps	Goals
2007-08	10	0
2008-09	13	0
2009-10	8	0

Senior Club Football

Season	Club	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2007-08	Yeovil Town (loan)	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
2008-09	Watford (loan)	6	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
2009-10	Stockport County (loan)	15	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	19	1

Post Chelsea Career

Liam signed for Brighton & Hove Albion to work under former Blues midfielder Gustavo Poyet. After initially being a squad option he became an integral part of the club's run to the 2010-11 League One title and a regular in their Championship starting eleven.

In January 2014 he was reunited with Poyet at Sunderland and became a Premier League player.