I also believe this is an MLS conspiracy to get the Red Cows into the play-offs. MLS will do anything to make a the Red Cows win. Anything! - T.K.
<DIV class=pagetitle><H1>Wizards suspend forward Johnson</H1></DIV><DIV class=bylinebox style="MARGIN-TOP: 8px"><DIV class=bylinetext>ESPNsoccernet.com news services
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With the Wizards' playoff hopes on the line, coach Brian Bliss has suspended forward Eddie Johnson.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://adsintl.starwave.com/js.ng/site=soccernet.espn.go.com&cc=na&sec=mls&a mp;pt=story&adsize=300x250&transactionID=4 824713786325209"></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
"I can confirm he won't play this weekend," Bliss told The Kansas City Star on Tuesday.
Bliss wouldn't comment on the cause of the suspension, saying only there was a "pattern" and series of events that led to it.
Johnson has scored just twice since arriving in Kansas City in February, and his late return from the World Cup in July prompted a one-game suspension. Johnson played just six minutes in a 3-3 draw with Real Salt Lake two weeks ago and was not in uniform when Kansas City played Chivas USA on Saturday. He has also gotten into arguments with teammates during practice.
"It's unfortunate, because he's a heck of a talent," Bliss told the Star.
"This is something Eddie and the club are dealing with," Wizards defender Nick Garcia told the Star. "[The players] support both Eddie and the club and this decision. Beyond that, I don't think it's our place to really comment any further."
The Wizards have a two-point lead for the fourth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot and only need to draw the Red Bulls in Saturday's season finale to make the postseason. Bliss said he didn't know if Johnson's suspension will end if the Wizards make the playoffs.
"I haven't thought that far ahead, to be honest," he told the Star. "The words I used were to the end of the season. You can interpret that any way you want. Is it the end of the regular season or does it run through the end of the playoffs? At this point, I just don't know."
"Eddie has a lot of potential to help us," Garcia told the Star. "But if the club feels it's best that he not be with us, then we have to accept that and go from here. Regardless [of what happens], we've got to plan accordingly that Eddie won't be back. That's the deal right now."</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV class=pagetitle><H1>Wizards suspend forward Johnson</H1></DIV><DIV class=bylinebox style="MARGIN-TOP: 8px"><DIV class=bylinetext>ESPNsoccernet.com news services
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With the Wizards' playoff hopes on the line, coach Brian Bliss has suspended forward Eddie Johnson.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://adsintl.starwave.com/js.ng/site=soccernet.espn.go.com&cc=na&sec=mls&a mp;pt=story&adsize=300x250&transactionID=4 824713786325209"></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
"I can confirm he won't play this weekend," Bliss told The Kansas City Star on Tuesday.
Bliss wouldn't comment on the cause of the suspension, saying only there was a "pattern" and series of events that led to it.
Johnson has scored just twice since arriving in Kansas City in February, and his late return from the World Cup in July prompted a one-game suspension. Johnson played just six minutes in a 3-3 draw with Real Salt Lake two weeks ago and was not in uniform when Kansas City played Chivas USA on Saturday. He has also gotten into arguments with teammates during practice.
"It's unfortunate, because he's a heck of a talent," Bliss told the Star.
"This is something Eddie and the club are dealing with," Wizards defender Nick Garcia told the Star. "[The players] support both Eddie and the club and this decision. Beyond that, I don't think it's our place to really comment any further."
The Wizards have a two-point lead for the fourth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot and only need to draw the Red Bulls in Saturday's season finale to make the postseason. Bliss said he didn't know if Johnson's suspension will end if the Wizards make the playoffs.
"I haven't thought that far ahead, to be honest," he told the Star. "The words I used were to the end of the season. You can interpret that any way you want. Is it the end of the regular season or does it run through the end of the playoffs? At this point, I just don't know."
"Eddie has a lot of potential to help us," Garcia told the Star. "But if the club feels it's best that he not be with us, then we have to accept that and go from here. Regardless [of what happens], we've got to plan accordingly that Eddie won't be back. That's the deal right now."</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
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