The Red Bulls are the most fun team in Major League Soccer

With apologies to the San Jose Earthquakes -- a bit of East Coast bias here -- but facts are facts: The New York Red Bulls are fun to watch. They run up and down the field. They have 32 goals in 17 games, good enough for third in the league.

It’s not just how many they are scoring, it’s how they are scoring.

Early in the season it was the Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper show. Exciting, but predictable. Now, however, everyone is getting into the attack. Thursday’s Wall Street Journal has a nice bit on the recent form:

Players listed as defenders have scored four of the Red Bulls’ last five goals. Heath Pearce notched his first for New York against Vancouver, Brandon Barklage scored the first two of his career against D.C. United, and Jan Gunnar Solli, who has been playing on the left side of midfield lately, picked up two goals in two games.

The “defenders” are playing in the midfield just as much as they are playing fullback. They are flying all over the place. The thrilling 3-2 victory over D.C. United last month highlighted the new-look Red Bulls. (Highlights below)

And it’s only going to get better from here. Henry’s getting closer to returning to form. The rookies are gaining experience. They are all starting to believe.

Also, the team struggles to defend, so you know there are going to be goals. You can’t really ask for more, can you?