Andrew Privett Gets Comfortable

After being pressed into service last season and forced to learn a tricky system on the fly, the young centerback has come out the other side...and he's loving it.

In tales of transcendent athletes, reluctant superheroes, and knights of yore, there’s no trope more trustworthy than a good ol’ Trial by Fire. That test of mettle in extreme circumstances and usually featuring inadequate prep time is the surest way to prove a protagonist’s prowess and speed up the arc of their character development.

For Charlotte FC’s 2nd-year Centerback Andrew Privett, the time of testing arrived last July in Montreal. With 10 minutes to go ‘til halftime and already trailing 2-0, The Crown lost stalwart defender Guzman Corujo to injury. As manager Christian Lattanzio stared down his thin bench, he suddenly seemed to realize, there were no true backup centerbacks available.

And so the Mad Scientist turned to a rookie college superdraft pick who had yet to appear in a match and who’d spent most of his pre-MLS career in the defensive midfield, not the back line. Andrew Privett got the call to go stand next to Adilson Malanda and kick any ball that got near him as far away as possible. 

Impressively, the makeshift pairing helped keep a 2nd half clean sheet and the rest was history.  Literally “you’re history” in Corujo’s case…he would never appear for Charlotte FC again. As for Privett, he’d start every game the rest of 2023 in tandem with Malanda, learning on the job in a continual crucible, barely having any time to make a mistake during a whirlwind Leagues Cup run then a frantic finish to the regular season.

Ultimately those less-than-ideal circumstances did indeed forge something fantastic, as The Crown kept clean sheets in 3 of its final 4 games to help seal the club’s first playoff spot. I’m not really sure what happened in the playoffs but you can probably Bing it if needed….anyway the upshot of the entire saga was Privett had been fully baptized as a Back Four Convert… entering 2024 he’d made the switch in his mind, and new manager Dean Smith agreed.

“It felt really natural, so we had the conversation to try a little bit of both, the 6 and at CB, during preseason,” said Privett at a media session Wednesday. “We both agreed my best position was at centerback, with the ability to help at 6 if needed. Versatility doesn’t hurt, but I’m more comfortable at centerback.”

That’s the best part about being forced into a situation that’s uncomfortable…eventually the “un” fades away. As Smith’s re-making of the squad proceeded in preseason, I felt fairly sure that a talented newcomer like Joao Pedro or a reliable veteran like Bill Tuiloma might displace Privett from his spot in the starting XI. Smith even spoke of his desire to sign a new left-footed CB in camp, repeatedly.

Instead Privett fended off all challengers and kept the job, then promptly provided the biggest defensive contributions in each of Charlotte’s first two matches this season- a Last-Man Tackle vs NYC and a Goal Line Clearance vs Vancouver that for all practical purposes combined to save 3 points for The Crown just two games into the year.

As he comfortably took questions in the rain at AHPP this week, Privett referenced that competition and the role he’s holding onto for now. 

“Every day you’re fighting for your spot. Iron sharpens Iron…I’m no longer a rookie, (my goal is) the confidence to take that role on the field and organize people, taking that next step to be a leader on the back line.” Doesn’t sound like a guy who’s still sweating his trial by fire.

Beyond his acquired experience, Privett’s comfort level in his second season is buoyed by a change in style and system thanks to the manager upgrade. 

Lattanzio’s regime doubled the demands on their Emergency Rook by not only asking him to play a brand new position, but also requiring him to play it in the most intricate way possible, helping generate numbers advantages in the midfield along with back line responsibilities.  Smith changed all that and simply wants Privett to prevent goals.

“It makes my job easier at times. The sole centerback role simplifies it, so it’s been positive so far.”

Privett’s positive, comfortable start to the season faces the next hurdle in Toronto this weekend, and he knows the threat provided by TFC’s DP Duo of Insigne and Bernadeschi. 

“We really gotta keep those two in check…Just their quality. We’ve gotta be aware of where they are and what they like to do, which is come into the box and shoot...we’ve done our due diligence on their tendencies and we know what to expect. Hopefully that gives us whatever advantage we can get out of it.”

Sounds like he’s thought about it just a bit, eh? Last year’s fixture in Toronto was actually Privett’s first-ever time to make the bench as a rookie (he was an unused sub in the famous “Agaaaainst the Wind” 2-2 draw), this year he’ll be counted on to help Charlotte FC keep their unbeaten start to the season going. 

“We’ve felt very comfortable, very solid through two weeks so far…the way we’re handling our shape and seeing things out.”

And there’s that word again- Comfortable. In his new position. With his new coach. That the trial by fire has passed, at least for now…until the next crisis anyway. When it does inevitably come, Privett can rely on his experience, as well as his budding partnership with Malanda.

“I’ve learned a lot from him as a new centerback learning the game, having the trust with each other, a good bond, good chemistry on the field…it goes a long way toward why our partnership has lasted and been successful so far.”

With so much talent in the Charlotte backline, and Deano’s continued desire to add even more depth to those ranks, Privett can’t afford to get *too* comfortable. Not even a great partnership will help him if his form dips while JP and Big Bill are waiting in the wings. But I’ve learned through two weeks of the season to stop betting against Andrew Privett…there’s just no comfort level for me anymore in doubting him.