Quiet Leader Bradley Wright-Phillips Pushing Red Bulls to the Top of MLS East

Bradley Wright-Phillips isn't your typical striker.  The New York Red Bulls forward is stellar in front of the net, but he doesn't possess the flash and flair of many of the big personalities who play his position across the globe.  That's why the praise of his leadership abilities from his manager and captain can catch outside observers off guard at first.  The scorer of 21 goals in 2016, and 66 in 105 matches over his three seasons in Major League Soccer, has moved into a greater leadership position in 2016 after a challenge from second-year Red Bulls manager Jesse Marsch.  “When Jesse first came here, he demanded that he didn’t just want goals out of me—he wanted me to be a voice in the changing room," Wright-Phillips said after his side's recent 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Union. "I tried to be a leader on the field. I'm trying every week to do those things. "It’s not really in my character. But that’s not good enough for Jesse. I try to do what I can to help the team."  Marsch said: "He’s stepped up his leadership in such a big way. The times he chooses to speak, the things he says, the commitment he has to this ...

MLS Player Rankings: BWP, Villa in Direct Battle for Top Spot After Week 30

The competition between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC runs deeper than the fight for the No. 1 playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Villa are in a fierce individual battle for the top spot in the Golden Boot race and the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings.  Each striker enters the final two matches of the season with 21 goals and the potential to score more in the tussle for home-field advantage in the East.  Beneath the two top scorers on the list of the league's best in-form players are a defensive-minded player on a hot streak in front of net, a red-hot super sub turned starter and a pair of impressive netminders who enter at the bottom of the list. Our player rankings take into account the last four performances from an individual, with the most recent showing carrying the most weight. Continue reading to see who landed where in the Week 30 edition of the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Villa, Kamara, McCarty Stand out in Wild Week 30

Week 30 was a massive week for a few clubs looking to secure the best possible position in the Major League Soccer postseason.  The Montreal Impact and D.C. United made moves in the Eastern Conference as they overtook Philadelphia for fourth and fifth, respectively, with a pair of victories.  Seattle made a similar jump in the Western Conference as they downed Chicago and Vancouver in the last seven days to jump up to fifth place.  We selected our latest Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week off the weekend matches as well as the four contests that were played on Wednesday. Our best XI is shaped in a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate an extra forward who shone over two games.  Continue reading to see who was named to the Week 30 edition of the Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow