Episode 64: Two five-goal thrillers, Boca’s Libertadores and Clausura chances & more

In the sixty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod there’s a lot to get through. Sam, Dan and Dan take you through two five-goal thrillers from last weekend, both of which affected the relegation battles, with Olimpo now down with three matches left of the season. We look at Boca Juniors’ chances in the league (they’re now three points clear at the top) and Copa Libertadores, and briefly look forward to this Saturday’s World Cup qualifying match in the Estadio Monumental between Argentina and Ecuador – Sam and Aussie Dan will be there. We’ve a lot of listeners’ questions to answer on everything from how positions are decided in the event of a tie on points to Alejandro Sabella’s team selection in the national side.

Since we recorded, Boca Juniors put Rosario Central out of the Copa Argentina on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the quarter-final.

As ever, Mystic Dan’s predictions (for the Argentina match and the Copa Argentina games) are below, and you can click here if you want to subscribe to us on iTunes.

Tags: Boca Juniors, Racing, Clausura, Copa Libertadores, San Lorenzo, Nacional B, Tigre, Gio Moreno, Argentina v Ecuador

Episode 63: Tigre’s escape act, Boca leading the way and much more

The sixty-third episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Dan and Dan joined by Joel Richards to discuss another action-packed week in Argentine football. Tigre, astonishingly, might finally manage to climb out of the relegation zone this coming weekend if they beat Atlético Rafaela; Boca Juniors’ reserves dispatched Racing 2-0 on Sunday to go top of the league, whilst Tigre, Newell’s Old Boys and Arsenal de Sarandí are all only a point behind, and All Boys are probably the most amusing of the potential champions, only two points off the lead. Questions include Boca Juniors’ proposed plans for a new stadium, River Plate’s likely squad changes if they gain promotion back to the Primera División and more.

As ever, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below the ‘Continue reading’ line. And you can click here to subscribe to us on iTunes.

Tags: All Boys, Boca Juniors, Clausura, Copa Argentina, Copa Libertadores, Nacional B, Newell's Old Boys, River Plate, Tigre

Episode 62: Streetfighting managers, Newell’s lead the way & Libertadores hopes

The sixty-second episode of Hand Of Pod was recorded by candlelight, after an epic climb up many, many flights of stairs from Sam and English Dan. In it, along with Australian Dan, we discuss San Lorenzo manager Ricardo Caruso Lombardi’s streetfight with the assistant of his predecessor, Newell’s Old Boys new position alone at the top of the Primera División, River Plate’s position in the second division title race, and Boca Juniors’ and Vélez Sarsfield’s chances in the Copa Libertadores on Thursday night, following their 0-0 draw with one another on Sunday evening. Listeners’ questions this week include how much Sam weighs, and which club has the nicest looking female fans.

As usual, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below, and you can click here to subscribe to us on iTunes.

Tags: Boca Juniors, Clausura, Copa Argentina, Copa Libertadores, Insituto, Newell's Old Boys, Ricardo Caruso Lombardi, River Plate, Vélez Sarsfield

Episode 61: Battling the barra bravas, tragedy at Banfield, Boca’s (lack of) controversy and more

In the sixty-first episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan and Dan are joined by the wonderful Joel Richards to discuss yet another weekend of controversy. There was controversy (though there shouldn’t have been) in Rafaela at the end of an incredibly dramatic 2-2 draw between Rafaela and Boca Juniors, a youth player for Banfield shot dead by a policeman, and Independiente’s president has declared war on the club’s barra brava. We answer questions ranging from Fabián Monzón’s chances at future call-ups for Argentina to Manchester City target and River Plate midfielder Ezequiel Cirigliano. Enjoy.

As ever, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below, and you can click here to subscribe to us on iTunes. Please.

Tags: Atlético Rafaela, Banfield, barra brava, Boca Juniors, Clausura, Copa Argentina, Copa Libertadores, Ezequiel Cirigliano, Independiente

Episode 60: A nicely laid-out league table, the Copa Argentina quarter-finals and more

The sixtieth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Dan and Dan discuss Boca Juniors’ narrow lead in the Clausura, thanks to a spectacular Santiago Silva effort last weekend, and Racing’s pitiful performance away to Lanús last weekend. We also give the Copa Argentina a once-over, now that all four quarter-finals are known, and discuss Argentina’s sides in the Copa Libertadores, before moving on to listeners’ questions which range from books on Argentine football and culture to Argentina’s WAG culture. This was recorded on Wednesday but not uploaded until now because Sam, who does the production and uploading, hasn’t been well. Sorry.

As usual, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below, and you can subscribe to us on iTunes if you so wish.

Tags: Argentine football, Boca Juniors, Clausura 2012, Copa Argentina, Copa Libertadores, Lanús, Racing, Santiago Silva, Tigre

Episode 59: Boca and Newell’s lead, Facundo Sava goes into management and league restructuring

The fifty-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod features Sam, Dan, Dan and special guest, Turkish TV presenter Asli Pelit, cover an increasingly tight title race; Only two points separate the top six teams, with Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys the sides in the driving seat – for now. San Martín de San Juan have changed managers, and former Fulham striker Facundo Sava is the man now in the hot seat for his first job in management. Also as we were talking, the AFA were voting on a league restructure. The relegation system described herein has since been confirmed, but the short championships will remain for next season. As usual, we answer your questions, and this week Mystic Dan is handing over the reins to Asli, and allowing her to predict what will happen this weekend. She gives us reasons and everything.

You’ll find Mystic Asli’s predictions below, as usual, and in case you haven’t done already, here’s a reminder that you can subscribe to us on iTunes.

Tags: AFA, Argentine league system, Boca Juniors, Clausura, Facundo Sava, Independiente, Newell's Old Boys, Racing, San Martín

Episode 58: A gun-toting striker, fistfights with fans, racist t-shirts and much more besides

The fifty-eighth episode of Hand Of Pod is a bumper edition. Not only do we have both Seba and Joel Richards on the same pod for the first time since their short-lived Enganche podcast with Sam four years ago (which spawned the idea for HOP when Sam moved to Buenos Aires), but Dan and Dan are both with us as well, and we’ve got plenty to discuss. Independiente thrashed Racing in the clásico on Saturday, after which Racing striker Teo Gutiérrez almost went postal, Boca Juniors players got into a fight with Tigre fans which left Santiago Silva with fractured fingers, San Martín v Vélez was called off with five minutes left, Racing and Godoy Cruz bade farewell to their managers, and River Plate fans courted controversy with some racist t-shirts. All this and more on the best Argentine football podcast around. Enjoy.

As usual Mystic Dan’s predictions for the coming weekend are below. Click here if you like us, and Apple, enough to subscribe to us on iTunes.

Tags: Alfio Basile, Boca Juniors, Clausura, Copa Argentina, Libertadores, Luis Zubeldía, Racing, Santiago Silva, Teo Gutiérrez