Leif Physt - Season in Spain

[CptSquall]

Once he became eligible for the SSL Prospects draft, Leif Physt was just leaving for the Nordic Football Tournament being hosted in Stavanger, Norway. It would feature the winners of the National Tournaments held in each of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, as well as the host city.

However a problem arose. One of the Starting players on the back end went down with a broken leg, leaving the side from Bornholm without a solid Center Back. In a 3-4-3 system, this was especially problematic. Leif took up the mantle and was able to roam a bit as a Libero on the back end, using his speed to help move the ball forward out of danger and to get back to mark his opponents tightly. This tight marking would become a hallmark of his game during the tournament, as would his ability to place shots perfectly during penalties.

Of his play in this tournament, two games stood out to many scouts in the SSL. Firstly the 4-2 beating of Swedish side Gothenburg by Leif's own Bornholm. Called the Island Derby by some papers, it showed off the main style for the lad. Winning many headers over the course of the game, in the 82nd Leif lined up for a Free Kick after being fouled. Physt's placing of his shot made it so that the Swedish keeper had no choice but to punch it into his own goal. The rest of said game saw Leif and his Bornholmers shutting down a grand majority of chances. Including a pair of Key intercepts and outlet passes that lead to the kind of chances that could have made the score 6-2. It was a great start to the knockouts and set the Danish side up for a date against the lads from Trondheim.

The Finals against Trondheim were more of an uphill slog. Down early 1-0 and kept off the sheet for WAY too long, Leif's light touch managed to start the tiki taka chain that would lead to the tying goal in the 2nd half. It was a somewhat calm game but not a whole lot of scoring. Knotted at 1s after 100 minutes, the game went to penalties wherein Leif was able to keep his side alive with a goal, but nobody else found their way around the Huge Norwegian Ash that stood in goal. It was bittersweet.

All of this would serve as backdrop for when he was drafted. Taken in the 3rd round, 32 Overall by Catalunya. Leif was promptly flown down to be a part of their training grounds and get climatized to life in Spain. Drafted as a Midfielder, it was no surprise that the team heads had also seen the Dane's play in the Nordic Tournament and took a keen interest in his play on the back end. They asked him to reorganize to play as a Central Defender in their up tempo style that was both easy for Leif to dive into and authentically Catalan.

This brings us to the start of Preseason where both local fans and the SSL at large were introduced to the Danish Dynamite. Trialed out as a Ball-Playing Defender as one half of the center on CFC's 4-3-3, Leif went to work making a name for himself. In a solid 3-2 comeback win over Montreal United, Physt would come away with 14 headers won, 1 of which was key. 5 interceptions, 8 clears of the box, and a solid shot on goal. All told a real good outing to dispel any worries as to weather or not he was good enough to be a part of any SSL side's Big 11.