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Columbus Crew: Best starting XI of 2010s

By John Harbeck

COMMERCE CITY, CO - JUNE 03: Federico Higuain #10 of the Columbus Crew SC celebrates his goal with Waylon Francis #14 against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 3, 2017 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
COMMERCE CITY, CO - JUNE 03: Federico Higuain #10 of the Columbus Crew SC celebrates his goal with Waylon Francis #14 against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 3, 2017 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 6: Chad Marshall #14 of the Columbus Crew goes over the top of Jeff Parke #31 of the Philadelphia Union to head the ball in the second half on April 6, 2013 at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus and Philadelphia played to a 1-1 tie. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 6: Chad Marshall #14 of the Columbus Crew goes over the top of Jeff Parke #31 of the Philadelphia Union to head the ball in the second half on April 6, 2013 at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus and Philadelphia played to a 1-1 tie. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Center-Backs

Chad Marshall, Michael Parkhurst 

This position is one that is predictably stacked with potential candidates. However, there are few high-end performers as the Columbus Crew typically for the 2010s have had one solid reliable starter paired with either a young developing player or an unreliable past their prime veteran. With that being said, there are two players who, when at their peaks, are possibly the best duo in MLS history.

First in this hypothetical must-win match for which we are building this team, I have selected Chad Marshall. Amazingly, Marshall was named to the MLS Best XI ten years apart, in 2008 and 2018. When at the height of his ability, Marshall was the best defender winning areal duels in the league. As a result, the dominant Columbus teams of the late 2000s and the still pretty good teams at the beginning of this decade were built around him.

To create an effective central defender pairing, it is a must to have complementary skill sets. Michael Parkhurst fits that bill perfectly. Parkhurst is a crafty, versatile player who can read and communicate with his defensive partner. The 2014 version of Parkhurst (an All-Star selection that year) still had the pace to track with speedier strikers and was an incredibly tough player, once playing through a dislocated shoulder.

Among the category of honorable mentions is Giancarlo Gonzalez, who was thought highly enough of during his one year with the club to be sold to Italy for $5 million. Also, there is the two-time Columbus Crew Josh Williams, who, early in his career, had an athletic ability to change games, but consistency held him back.

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