Despite qualifying for the playoffs over the weekend, the New York Red Bulls are once again a team reeling towards a first round playoff defeat.

Toronto FC's 12-game winless streak came to an end with a 2-1 upset of the Red Bulls on Thursday evening at BMO Field. The win was Toronto's first since a 2-1 victory at Real Salt Lake on July 4th. The team had been 0-8-4 since then, dropping to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

The Red Bulls' late-season swoon continued as they have won only once since their dramatic 5-4 victory over the David Beckham led Los Angeles Galaxy in a packed stadium of over 66,000 fans. New York now has just one win in their last eight games, and if it were not for the goal scoring prowess of Colombian forward Juan Pablo Angel, the Red Bulls would be on the outside looking in at the playoffs.

Prior to Red Bull's purchase of the franchise in March 2006, the combined 10-year per-game attendance average for the franchise was 17,617. Red Bull's first year of ownership saw the attendance average dip below 15,000 for only the second time in club history, finishing the season at 14,569.

The average has increased over 1,700 fans game in 2007 to 16,276 with one home game remaining against the Kansas City Wizards. However, the club was unable to reach its franchise average despite being the only team in Major League Soccer to have two Designated Players and its highest single game attendance in history (the August 18th match against the Galaxy). Without the game against Los Angeles, the Red Bulls average attendance would be 12,432, the lowest in franchise history.

Despite the Red Bulls qualifying for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, the team continues to fight mediocrity. The Red Bulls have not made it to the conference finals since 2000, the year Lothar Matthäus "played" for New York.

So, what is wrong with the New York Red Bulls? It's certainly not Angel. The former Aston Villa forward has scored four of New York’s seven goals over the last five games to set a new franchise record for goals in a season with 17. Angel gives the Red Bulls their first legitimate MVP candidate since Amado Guevara took home the award for the club in 2004. But, Angel aside, there are many issues surrounding the club.

On offense, the Red Bulls outshot Toronto 11-6 in Thursday's nationally televised game, but were unable to get on the scoreboard until Dane Richards converted Dave van den Bergh's corner kick in the 75th minute. Jozy Altidore has been quiet the past few games after recovering from a brief injury. Meanwhile, journeyman target forward John Wolyniec has been relegated to fourth on the depth chart after Altidore, Angel and Liberia international Francis Doe.

Still, the back four is where the biggest question marks remain. Chris Leitch's miscues in recent matches may open the door for US Under-23 defender Hunter Freeman, who was playing superbly before suffering an early season ankle injury. Bruce Arena's decision to bench Carlos Mendes for the younger Seth Stammler has for the most part failed as the former Maryland Terrapin has been susceptible to lapses on set pieces. Dave van den Bergh has filled in adequately at left back. The loan bright spot in the defense has been Jeff Parke, who has performed well all season.

At goalkeeper, Arena appears to have decided on international veteran Ronald Waterreus over American Jon Conway. Waterreus may have more experience, but Conway has statistically been the better goalkeeper this year as Conway has 1.12 goals-against-average in 12 games as opposed to Waterreus' 1.79 GAA in 18 games.

The goalkeeper decision is just one of several head scratching moves Arena has made this season. During the course of the year, Arena traded both of his starting fullbacks, Todd Dunivant and Marvell Wynne, to Toronto.

He received Kevin Goldthwaite, who has played poorly for New York and now is out for the season with an injuryin return for Dunivant, a starter for Toronto.

The Wynne deal is a bit more complex as Arena believed Freeman could easily replace Wynne at right back. In April and May, the trade appeared to be a golden move as Freeman was playing well defensively and was an important cog in the Red Bulls attack. Freeman's lengthy ankle injury saw him regress and he now is having a hard time displacing Leitch in the line-up. In Toronto, Wynne has been one of the club's best players and did enough to warrant a call up to the US National Team for Copa América.

Arena's most questionable move is the signing of former US captain Claudio Reyna to a DP slot. In January, it made a lot of sense. New York needed a leader on and off the pitch and Reyna was capable of being that guy. However, Reyna has missed a quarter of the Red Bulls' games due to injury and his absence created a void in an undermanned New York midfield. Replacement Joe Vide has been unable to provide the defensive bite and attacking support necessary to replace Reyna and thus the team cannot find any sort of continuity on the field.

No one can call this a successful season unless New York makes a decent run at MLS Cup. The team needs to improve its play if it expects to make a challenge during the playoffs. The key to a late season run will depend heavily on whether Reyna can stay healthy.

If Reyna is able to contribute down the stretch, many will forget about his poor regular season and credit Arena with the decision to bring in the former Manchester City midfielder. If the Red Bulls fold in the playoffs once again, do not expect to see either return to New York in 2008.