It’s your favorite player’s favorite show.
Welcome to New Ground, where the conversations hit different.
Hosted by Allen Hopkins Jr. and Jalil Anibaba, this is where the locker room opens up. These are melanin-rich conversations about life, soccer — footy, whatever you want to call it — and the real stories that shape the game in America.
From Major League Soccer to the USMNT pipeline, from player identity to leadership, culture, pressure, and purpose — nothing’s off limits. This isn’t media-trained soundbites. It’s lived experience. It’s perspective you only get from the guys who’ve been in it.
Allen and Jalil sit down with current and former pros, coaches, creatives, and culture-shifters to unpack the moments you didn’t see on the highlight reel — the setbacks, the locker room truths, the growth behind the grind.
If you love the game beyond the scoreboard, this show is for you.
Real players. Real perspective. New Ground.
082: Eddie Johnson was American's first inner-city star
Talent is widespread, but opportunities are not. Eddie Johnson made his mark on the USMNT and MLS and now runs player development day in, day out.
Eddie shares his journey from growing up in Florida to becoming a key figure in American soccer. He reflects on his career, the challenges he faced, and the pivotal moments that shaped him. Now a renowned player development coach, Johnson discusses mentorship, the transition to European soccer, and his mission to change the narrative around youth training—encouraging young players to dream big and highlighting the role of former pros in shaping the next generation.
We get into:
- Arsenal wins EPL
- Winning Coaches in Europe
- Coaching changes in MLS
- Eddie Johnson’s intro to soccer
- Capitalizing on opportunity
- Youngest MLS Hat Trick
- USMNT Experience
- Transition to Europe
- Finding his calling in player development
- FLOWERS: the unsung Staff heroes
15 May 2026
081: Who is your favorite player of all-time? And which American player had the best season in Europe?
Who is your favorite player of all-time? What a loaded question to open up this week's episode.
Allen and Jalil also discuss which American had the best season for European clubs. With less than a month away from World Cup play, we gotta check in and see who is in form.
We get into:
All-time Favorite Players
Best season by an American in Europe
Weston McKennie's Versatility
MLS heading into the World Cup break
New England Revolution surprising in the East
MLS youth movement
Player pathways
World Cup memories
FLOWERS: Darian Jenkins, World Cup Content Creators
8 May 2026
080: Julian Zakrzewski Hall says his fellow New Yorkers have that “grit”
What’s in a name? For Julian Zakrzewski Hall it’s a way to honor his Mother who has been alongside him every step of the way to his breakout start to the 2026 campaign.
The New York Red Bulls rising star shows he us wise beyond his years in his conversation with Allen and Jalil.
We get into:
Black culture and noteable footballer hair styles
Champions League Final Preview
NYRB Julian Hall wearing his Mom's last name on his jersey
Handling pressure
How NYRB Coach Michael Bradley has impacted his development
What is a New York footballer?
How former pro Cory Gibbs has been Influential
Excited for the World Cup
FLOWERS: Shout out to our Moms
Reach and audience
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