This week we head out to the great state of Washington to get a Best Ten & Me from co-founder of Grays Harbor Gulls, Alex Barene. The rules are simple…
1. You have to pick a formation and fill it with players who have been active in your lifetime and
2. You have to plug yourself in to the lineup and tell us where and why you play in that spot.

Okay, here's my Best 10 & Me! I played around with a couple of ideas for my XI, I thought about doing an all-Cascadia team. I also thought about doing an XI of my least favorite players but I decided to just go with my favorite players. I went with a 4-3-3 but let's just say it's a very fluid formation.

(GK) Iker Casillas
I despise Real Madrid but I've always admired Casillas. He's one of the best keepers of all time, he's won everything there is to win. He would come up with saves that left opponents & fans with their jaws dropped. He's been through a lot in the past couple of years and has always stood out as a really classy dude.

*(RB) Me!
I like playing on the wing, but I guess there are some better players in this squad so I'll settle for fullback and try to get forward.

(CB) Victor Corona
Technically the rules didn't say they all had to be pro...so I decided to include one of my best friends, Victor. We've played together since we were 11 or 12, played together in college, and now for the Gulls. He's pretty solid (even though I meg him every session).

(CB) Chad Marshall
Just the coolest guy ever. Deserved a lot more games with the USMNT.

(LB) Leighton Baines
Captain of my beloved Everton & one of the most underrated players of his era. The definition of consistency & class. Deserved a few more England call-ups!

(CDM) Ozzie Alonso
One of the nicest guys off the pitch, one of the most tenacious on it. Known for his play as a destroyer but also pretty much single-handedly set the tempo offensively for the Sounders. Has a pretty amazing story coming from Cuba. Wish we could have seen him play for the US.

(CM) Andres Iniesta
Would've won a Ballon D'or or two if it wasn't for one of his Barcelona teammates. A joy to watch, especially during Barca's peak. Incredible technical ability, extremely intelligent, one of the best passers ever, and a quiet but great leader.

(CAM) Marco Reus
I really believe he'd be one of the best in the world had it not been for injuries. Regardless, he's a top class player. He can play anywhere in the attack, setting up and scoring goals. Very intelligent & highly technical. We also kind of look alike, so that might have something to do with it.

(RW) Leo Messi
The GOAT and my favorite player to watch. A true genius of the game, we won't ever see another like him. I'm all for loyalty, but we've only got a few years left to see him play and I think his remaining years may be best served outside Barcelona. But that's beside the point. He's the GOAT.

(LW) Clint Dempsey
The perfect combination of undeniable swagger, grit, and a silky smooth touch. Clint can play pretty much anywhere in the attack, can set up goals, or put them in the net himself. Has the audacity to try things that most would never even think of. Also has an incredible personal story. Don't Tread.

(ST) Fernando Torres
I really shouldn't like him as much as I do considering his best years were with L*******l. But I can't help it. World class finisher, strong in the air, good link-up play. He pretty much had it all & was unplayable on his day.

Here's my honorable mention bench, for the guys who didn't quite make the squad: Stefan Frei, Jermain Defoe, Martin Odegaard, Zlatan, Matt Sheldon, Hector Bellerin, Steve Zakuani