As intangibles go, Prideaux has plenty to offer Fire fans
Fire fans didn't jump for joy when the team signed Brandon Prideaux over the winter.
Little was written about picking up a guy waived by a weak Colorado club, and no fan clubs were formed to celebrate a player who has since won the job as the Fire's starting right back.
There's just nothing sexy about him (as a player; sorry, Mrs. Prideaux).
He doesn't score off set pieces. He doesn't go forward often and he doesn't put much fear in opposing goalkeepers when he does. He isn't quick or especially skilled. Solid positioning and ball winning don't make highlight reels.
"I feel like I read the game pretty well," Prideaux said. "I bring experience and an understanding of the game. And then my competitiveness. I'm a very competitive guy. I just want to win and I will myself to win. A lot of intangibles. I don't know if I'm the most gifted player, but (I bring) a lot of intangibles."
That explains why he fits into this team well and helps explain why the Fire is 5-1-1, the second-best record in MLS, with four shutouts already this season.
So what's more surprising? That he could come to a good team after being waived by Colorado and be a starter, or that Colorado would waive him in the first place?
"You know, I saw a quote earlier in the year that sometimes you don't fit in with one team and you fit in really well with another, and I think that's kind of the case with me this year," Prideaux said. "Things for whatever reason didn't go really well in Colorado, and I'm happy to be here. I've played in the league a long time, and the coaching staff knew that, and knew that I'm an experienced player and thought I could contribute."
Prideaux is no hack. He has started almost 200 MLS games and won championships with Kansas City in 2000 and D.C. United in 2004.
"When we saw the opportunity to get him off waivers, we thought it would be a good addition to our team as far as just bringing in another guy with experience," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said, "but also a good professional and a guy who you know what you're going to get when he's on the field as far as just being dependable, good defending and a guy who can get forward when he has to."
"He's nothing special or anything like that, like a Justin Mapp with his speed or a Chris Rolfe with his technique, but he knows what he's good at," added fellow defender Gonzalo Segares, who car pools to Toyota Park with Prideaux from the north side of Chicago. "He just keeps it simple."
There's a lot to be said for just keeping it simple, and in Chicago Prideaux has found a place where simple works.
"It's situational, they were looking for somebody and I happened to be available," Prideaux said. "Right time and right place. It worked out great."
C.J. is back: Veteran defender C.J. Brown has begun practicing again this week after missing the start of the season with hip tendonitis.
Marmol update: New defender Lider Marmol could be available for Saturday night's home game against Houston. First, though, he will have to travel to either Mexico or Canada to get the appropriate visa.
Legal use of hands: The Fire's Cuauhtemoc Blanco practiced throwing a couple of pitches to teammate Chad Barrett after practice Tuesday. Blanco will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at tonight's Cubs game, with Barrett and Chris Rolfe singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. No word on whether Barrett and Rolfe were practicing their singing.
New coach in town: The new and as yet unnamed Chicago Women's Professional Soccer franchise will introduce its first coach at a press conference Thursday morning at Toyota Park. The team promises it will be an "internationally renowned" coach. The league beings play next April.