Episode 110: Reviewing the Torneo Final & looking at the main moves in the winter break

The hundred-and-tenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Joel meet to look back on a memorable Torneo Final – what seemed like an emphatic championship win for Newell’s even though they only ended up three points clear of second placed River Plate, San Martín’s last day relegation, Boca Juniors’ hideous campaign, River’s qualified success – and forward to the main talking points of the winter break. We ask which players will be moving on and staying, what the main movers and shakers have to do with their squads, and attempt to explain how continental qualification works. There’s also the Hand Of Pod Best XI of the championship, and a look at how the Torneo Final would have looked had every match gone exactly as Mystic Sam predicted…

Don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter and subscribe to us on iTunes. And if you’d like a look at Mystic Sam’s league table and the Best XI, you’ll find them below.

This is what the Torneo Final would have looked like if every match had gone as Mystic Sam predicted (the goal tallies, obviously, weren’t predicted and therefore we’ve not filled them in)

Hand Of Pod Best XI of the Torneo Final

Saja (Racing)

Casco (Newell’s) —- L. López (Arsenal) —- Heinze (Newell’s) —- Vangioni (River)

Bernardi (Newell’s) — Pizarro (Lanús) — Cruzado (Newell’s)

Scocco (Newell’s) — Gigliotti (Colón) — Vietto (Racing)

Episode 109: ¡Newell’s campeón!, Independiente relegated & Lanús thrash River

The hundred-and-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Santi return to discuss an eventful week in Argentine football. Independiente were relegated last Saturday courtesy of a 1-0 defeat at home to San Lorenzo; Newell’s Old Boys won the championship on Wednesday without kicking a ball as Lanús – who’d thrashed River 5-1 on Sunday – failed to overturn a 2-0 half time deficit in completing their postponed match against Estudiantes. We discuss how deserving Newell’s win was and look at how they and Independiente had such wildly different seasons, having started 2012-13 on exactly the same (poor) standing in the relegation table. As ever, there’s a lot more besides.

As ever, Mystic Sam’s predictions are below the line. And don’t forget you can subscribe to us on iTunes!

Episode 108: World Cup qualifiers, police shooting fans, tense title/relegation run-ins and more

The hundred-and-eighth episode of Hand Of Pod is a bumper one, during which Sam, English Dan and Joel look back on Argentina’s two World Cup qualifying draws to start with, before getting into the serious stuff in the domestic league; two called-off matches and one fan shot dead by police, a restaurant looted by Independiente fans after defeat to River Plate left their side’s survival hopes hanging by the slimmest of threads, the possibility that Newell’s Old Boys could win the league on Sunday, the question of whether anyone at all involved in Argentine football pays their taxes, and much, much more besides. Enjoy.

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Episode 107: Looking back at a big domestic weekend & forward to a pivotal World Cup qualifying one

In the 107th episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Santi are joined by prodigal son Joel Richards to look back on a weekend of domestic action and look forward to a weekend of both domestic and international matches. Argentinos Juniors’ 2-0 win over River Plate had ramifications for both the relegation table and the title race, and means Independiente could (though it’d be a stretch) be relegated this coming weekend. Newell’s Old Boys missed the chance to pull five points clear, whilst Racing and San Lorenzo are both close to securing Copa Sudamericana places. We also look forward to Argentina’s World Cup qualifying double-header; they’ll play Colombia at home on Friday, and Ecuador away on Tuesday. It’s longer than the last few, but we hope you like it.

As usual, you’ll find Mystic Sam’s predictions below the line. Don’t forget you can subscribe to us on iTunes, and follow us on Twitter.

Episode 106: reviewing the Newell’s v Boca mini-series & more

The 106th episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Santi convene to discuss what we were previewing in episode 105 – the three matches (two in the Copa Libertadores, one in the league) which Newell’s Old Boys and Boca Juniors have played since then. Newell’s were the happier side, with a 4-0 league win and a penalty shootout win in the Libertadores after two dull 0-0 draws. We also ask whether River Plate can challenge for the league title, whether Independiente can catch Argentinos Juniors in the relegation battle, and whether Quilmes v Racing (which was played a few hours before this episode was uploaded, and ended 1-0 to Quilmes) was likely to be fixed, among much more. Oh, and we tell you our favourite ratios for mixing a fernet and Coke.

Mystic Sam’s predictions are below – you can subscribe to us on iTunes right here, and can also follow the HOP Twitter account.