Well, you can, since I don't find a class balanced when it's only useful when multiclassed.
It is not "only useful when multiclassed". It is very limited when not muticlassed, but within those limitations it does very well.
Start out as a thief, like everybody should
Or a temptress, or a noble, or a scholar. Or, if there is another of these in the group, don't sweat it.
Take one level in soldier and get a combat feat, heavy armor. Take one level in barbarian and get "Lightning Reflexes" (i.e. +2 Ref save), Fearless which is the reason I've taken one level of barbarian before, Track, Versatility -2, and +2 skill ranks.
I'm just not making many reflex saves. Fearless is handy. Versatility is not very useful when you are proficient with all martial weapons anyway, and plus 2 skill ranks isn't an issue because I'm getting loads of skills from my skill heavy class. Track is very useful: but only one member of the party needs it.
On the other hand, having any combat feat I like is very useful, and access to all forms of armour rocks.
Take four levels in soldier and get two more combat feats, +2 parry, formation (useless). Take four levels of barbarian and get a bunch of specialized feats/specials, +1 dodge, the best special in the game outside of sorcery in Uncanny Dodge, "greater lightning reflexes", and +8 skill ranks.
But if you don't want those specialised feat/specials...which are, after all, specialised... two more feats you can put where YOU choose and +2 parry are excellent choices. Because, of course, parry is almost entirely better than dodge, unless your character needs DEX anyway. And actually, probably even then.