Episode 133: No shortage of thrillers, Boca finally win again… and look out, Newell’s are back!

The hundred-and-thirty-first episode of Hand Of Pod features Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Ilan. They look back over the fourth round of the Torneo Final, which saw some wonderfully entertaining games: two golazos from Gonzalo Castellani as Godoy Cruz beat Rosario Central 3-0; a 3-2 thriller in La Fortaleza where Lanús ousted Vélez; a frankly slightly silly 2-2 draw in the round’s final match between Gimnasia and Belgrano in La Plata… and a simply awe-inspiring performance from Newell’s, who ended a run of thirteen matches without in spectacular fashion, dismantling Atlético de Rafaela to claim a 4-1 victory (they did it again as this episode was being edited, beating Nacional 4-0 in the Copa Libertadores). Boca Juniors finally won a game; their 1-0 win over Estudiantes was the La Plata side’s first defeat of the year. And of course, River Plate and Racing are both looking awful again. We ask why that is. Enjoy.

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Mystic Sam’s fifth round predictions
Godoy Cruz v Gimnasia
Racing v All Boys
Argentinos v Arsenal
Vélez v Boca
Rafaela v Belgrano
Central v Colón
Olimpo v Lanús
Quilmes v Tigre
River v San Lorenzo
Estudiantes v Newell’s

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Episode 132: The champs are up and running, Boca’s Riquelme-reliance, trouble at River and more

In the hundred-and-thirty-second episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by English Dan, Peter and Rob, and we discuss not one but two rounds of league action, with the third round having been played in midweek. San Lorenzo have started looking like the defending champions with back-to-back victories, Estudiantes have started with three straight wins to top the table early on, Racing look like… well, Racing, and it’s been a poor week for Boca Juniors. River Plate are in hot water over another security issue at the Estadio Monumental, and Tigre manager Fabián Alegre might be our new favourite manager. Oh, and Ricardo Caruso Lombardi’s back. All this and much more…

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Mystic Sam’s fourth round predictions
Lanús v Vélez
All Boys v Olimpo
Arsenal v Racing
Newell’s v Rafaela
San Lorenzo v Quilmes
Boca v Estudiantes
Colón v River
Godoy Cruz v Central
Tigre v Argentinos
Gimnasia v Belgrano

Episode 131: River & Boca being better than rubbish, San Lorenzo beginning with (two) defeats & more

The hundred-and-thirty-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Andrés and Rob look back over the opening weekend of the 2014 Torneo Final, which featured better than expected (better than we expected, at least) performances from River Plate and Boca Juniors, champions San Lorenzo starting as they don’t mean to go on with a defeat away to Olimpo in Bahía Blanca, an impressive win for Racing – who endured a typically farcical situation surrounding their new signing Wason Rentería – and more. We ask whether Newell’s have shot themselves in the foot by not adding to their strike force and whether Argentinos Juniors are going to be more entertaining this year, and give you the back story to the 20-year-old who’ll be making his debut in goal for Belgrano away to Boca Juniors on Sunday.

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Mystic Sam’s second round predictions
Godoy Cruz v Quilmes
All Boys v Estudiantes
Arsenal v Vélez
Tigre v Olimpo
Colón v Argentinos
San Lorenzo v Racing
Lanús v Rafaela
Gimnasia v Newell’s
Central v River
Boca v Belgrano

Episode 130: Reviewing the summer ins and outs, and previewing the 2014 Torneo Final

Episode 130 of Hand Of Pod is the best-sounding ever, thanks to a new microphone paid for by the enormous generosity of HOP listener Doug Hart. Sam is joined by Santi, Mariano, Andrés and new HOP cast member Peter Coates to look back over a relatively quiet summer in the transfer market, and look forward to a hectic-looking Torneo Final. Éver Banega’s move to Newell’s Old Boys, River Plate’s and Racing’s impressive pre-seasons, Boca Juniors’ continuing injury woes and more are all up for discussion, among much more. Enjoy.

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Mystic Sam’s first round predictions
Estudiantes v Arsenal
Vélez v Tigre
Olimpo v San Lorenzo
Argentinos v Godoy Cruz
Rafaela v All Boys
Racing v Colón
Quilmes v Central
Newell’s v Boca
River v Gimnasia
Belgrano v Lanús