Biscan is a rock
Igor Biscan
Biscan is a rock – Tommo Dec 11 2003
By Chris Bascombe Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL assistant manager Phil Thompson today insisted it’s time Igor Biscan was given the credit he deserves for his form this season.
The Anfield number two believes the Croatian still gets unfair criticism but should be judged on his
excellent displays at centre half. And Thompson is also backing the defender to force his way into his country’s Euro 2004 squad.
Biscan arrived at Anfield from Croatia Zagreb in 2001 for GBP5m as a defensive mid-field player. But he has since been re- invented by Gerard Houllier as a defender.
Thompson said today: “He still has to win people over but to be fair to him I think he has already won a lot of people over this season.
“It surprises me when people decide they dislike a certain player and are never prepared to change their opinion.
“To me you should judge a player on their performance in each game on its merits. This season it’s
impossible to look at Igor and claim he has not played well.
“He and Sami Hyypia have formed a great understanding. Look at how they played against Alan Shearer, who
knows all the tricks of the trade as a striker.
“The performance of Igor and Sami demanded the kind of concentration which is a big part of being a
centre-half. The two of them were outstanding and withstood a lot of pressure.
“There is still more to come from Igor. First and foremost he is becoming an out and out defender. We know
he has the ability to get forward too but the main thing is to help us keep a clean sheet. The rest is a
bonus.”
Added Thompson: “I think he’s got a good chance of going to the European Championships.
“We had a chat with the Croatian manager a few months ago and he says things are looking very positive for Igor.
“His performances have been at such a high level there is no reason why he shouldn’t be in the Croatian
side.”
* Michael Owen and Harry Kewell are back in light training but are more likely to face Wolves on December
20 at Molineux than Southampton at Anfield this weekend.
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