Episode 305: the new season is just around the corner

The three hundred and fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés all excited because there are fewer than ten days remaining until the start of the 2018–19 Superliga season, and we’ve got some kickoff times to tell you about. We discuss which teams still have some work to do in the transfer market (including a bit of a fuss about whether Boca Juniors should be allowed to sign the left back they want), River Plate’s rather lovely kit, which is free of sponsors on the chest until December, and the AFA’s apparent decision to wait until December before deciding on a new manager; it seems youth team managers Lionel Scaloni and Pablo Aimar will be in charge of the Argentina team who will head to the United States for friendlies against Colombia and Guatemala next month.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Episode 287: picking over the bones of Argentina’s 6-1 defeat to Spain

The two hundred and eighty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod was recorded on Tuesday evening, after the friendly which dominates this episode: Argentina’s record-equalling 6-1 defeat to Spain in Madrid. How much does Jorge Sampaoli need to change ahead of the World Cup? Is the situation salvageable from here? Is there any hope at all without Lionel Messi? Sam and English Dan consider the fallout. We also explain what’s going on with a court case involving Independiente, where a youth prostitution ring has been uncovered operating out of the club’s accommodation (without, we hasten to add, the club’s knowledge).

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn.

This week’s guest predictor is Mystic Ahmed.

Mystic Ahmed
Huracán v Banfield
Belgrano v Racing
Newell’s v Tigre
Vélez v Estudiantes
Gimnasia v Argentinos
Unión v San Martín
Independiente v Atl. Tucumán
Defensa y Justicia v River
Chacarita v Arsenal
Patronato v Central
Boca v Talleres
Lanús v San Lorenzo
Olimpo v Temperley
Godoy Cruz v Colón

Mystic Sam
Huracán v Banfield
Belgrano v Racing
Newell’s v Tigre
Vélez v Estudiantes
Gimnasia v Argentinos
Unión v San Martín
Independiente v Atl. Tucumán
Defensa y Justicia v River
Chacarita v Arsenal
Patronato v Central
Boca v Talleres
Lanús v San Lorenzo
Olimpo v Temperley
Godoy Cruz v Colón

Episode 283: San Lorenzo slip up as Boca rediscover their attacking spark

Episode 283 of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss a weekend of Superliga action in which San Lorenzo lost away to Gimnasia, thus falling even further behind league leaders Boca Juniors, who rediscovered their attacking form in an entertaining 4-2 win over San Martín. San Lorenzo also ceded second place to Talleres. River Plate are still abysmal, and lost 1-0 away to Vélez Sarsfield in a dreadful match, while Racing managed two impressive wins: first becoming the first team this league season not to lose to Godoy Cruz in Mendoza, and then beating Cruzeiro 4-2 in the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday night. All this and more.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Last weekend, Mystic Sam lost 7-3 to Mystic Youssef. This week, the challenger is Mystic Paul.

Mystic Paul
Arsenal v Lanús
Belgrano v Patronato
Colón v Huracán
Temperley v Gimnasia
San Lorenzo v Unión
Rosario Central v Godoy Cruz
Tigre v Talleres
Atl. Tucumán v Defensa y Justicia
Banfield v Newell’s
Racing v Vélez
River v Chacarita
Estudiantes v Olimpo
San Martín v Independiente
Argentinos v Boca

Mystic Sam
Arsenal v Lanús
Belgrano v Patronato
Colón v Huracán
Temperley v Gimnasia
San Lorenzo v Unión
Rosario Central v Godoy Cruz
Tigre v Talleres
Atl. Tucumán v Defensa y Justicia
Banfield v Newell’s
Racing v Vélez
River v Chacarita
Estudiantes v Olimpo
San Martín v Independiente
Argentinos v Boca

Episode 282: Central’s new kids on the block, Independiente’s heartbreak and more

Episode 282 of Hand Of Pod comes to you a little later than normal this week, but Sam and Andrés are here to talk you through last weekend’s Superliga action ahead of the next round of games. Boca Juniors found it hard going for the second week running, but once again came through for a 1-0 win which keeps them at arm’s length (or perhaps two arms’ lengths) from the chasing pack, while there were plenty of goals elsewhere. River Plate’s attack improved a bit, but their defence still left a lot to be desired in a 2-2 draw against Godoy Cruz; Rosario Central’s youngsters, meanwhile, announced themselves with some fanfare as Andrés Lioi hit a hat trick in their 5-0 tonking of Olimpo. On Wednesday night, Independiente suffered the disappointment of a shootout defeat to Grêmio in the Recopa Sudamericana.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Last week, Mystic Sam beat Mystic Youssef 8-5. This week, Youssef is back for more …

Mystic Youssef
Olimpo v Arsenal
Huracán v Estudiantes
Godoy Cruz v Racing
Defensa y Justicia v Patronato
Lanús v Central
Vélez v River
Atl. Tucumán v Tigre
Chacarita v Belgrano
Independiente v Banfield
Unión v Colón
Boca v San Martín
Newell’s v Temperley
Talleres v Argentinos
Gimnasia v San Lorenzo

Mystic Sam
Olimpo v Arsenal
Huracán v Estudiantes
Godoy Cruz v Racing
Defensa y Justicia v Patronato
Lanús v Central
Vélez v River
Atl. Tucumán v Tigre
Chacarita v Belgrano
Independiente v Banfield
Unión v Colón
Boca v San Martín
Newell’s v Temperley
Talleres v Argentinos
Gimnasia v San Lorenzo

Episode 278: Summer’s over, and Argieball is back!

Hand Of Pod returns for 2018, with a new logo and exciting plans for the new year. Sam and Andrés are your hosts for episode 278, in which we look back over a transfer window that was mostly uneventful but all the same takes an age to summarise, because as we might have mentioned before there are too many clubs in the Argentine top flight. Lucas Pratto became the Millonarios’ most expensive signing ever, Carlos Tevez is back at Boca Juniors, and how have Independiente opted to replace Atlanta-bound Ezequiel Barco? All these questions and more are up for discussion. It’s good to be back!

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Mystic Sam this week takes on Mystic Simon, who’s our first ever Facebook predictor. Both Sam and Simon are already on 0/1 because Independiente and Rosario Central drew 1-1 on Wednesday evening.

Mystic Simon
Independiente v Central
Godoy Cruz v Chacarita
Tigre v Banfield
Talleres v San Lorenzo
Defensa y Justicia v Vélez Sarsfield
Newell’s v Arsenal
Lanús v Patronato
Boca v Colón
Argentinos v San Martín
Olimpo v Belgrano
Unión v Racing
Huracán v River
Atl. Tucumán v Temperley
Gimnasia v Central
Independiente v Estudiantes

Mystic Sam
Independiente v Central
Godoy Cruz v Chacarita
Tigre v Banfield
Talleres v San Lorenzo
Defensa y Justicia v Vélez Sarsfield
Newell’s v Arsenal
Lanús v Patronato
Boca v Colón
Argentinos v San Martín
Olimpo v Belgrano
Unión v Racing
Huracán v River
Atl. Tucumán v Temperley
Gimnasia v Central
Independiente v Estudiantes

Episode 246: Rounding up the last weekend of 2016 action

The two hundred and forty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod is the last one of the year. Sam, Andrés and English Dan round up the last week of Primera action this year, which included two good results for River Plate (who claimed the Copa Argentina last week), another big win for Boca Juniors, who thus end the year at the top of the table, more dropped points for Estudiantes and plenty of other talking points, including a number of emotional farewells to players and various managers either resigning or being fired. As well as all this, there’s also time to take a brief look at the current situation regarding TV rights for next year – which is currently up in the air. You’ll be hearing from us again at the end of the summer break – if you’re celebrating over the next week or two, enjoy!

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Episode 245: reviewing the Superclásico and preparing for the end of the year

The two hundred and forty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod is the penultimate one of 2016, and Sam and Andrés meet to discuss Boca Juniors’ 4-2 away win over River Plate in what – even as River sympathisers – we cant deny was a tremendously entertaining Superclásico. Carlos Tevez was superb, and as well as praising his performance we also look at the reports he might be off to China soon. For River, there’s a chance for some compensation in the form of the Copa Argentina final against Rosario Central, which is played on the evening this podcast goes live, and could see one – or both – of the managers, Marcelo Gallardo for River and Eduardo Coudet for Central, leave their club. All this, and there’s still one more round of league action to preview, thanks to the one-week delay to the season kicking off back in August. As a result of that, we’ll be back next week with an unusually festive edition.

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Mystic John’s fourteenth round predictions (last week Mystic Sam and Mystic Peter got 7/15)
Huracán v Talleres
Godoy Cruz v Gimnasia
Sarmiento v Aldosivi
Estudiantes v Defensa y Justicia
Unión v Racing
Atl. Rafaela v Patronato
Independiente v Banfield
Belgrano v Central
Lanús v San Lorenzo
Arsenal v Vélez
Boca v Colón
Newell’s v San Martín
Olimpo v River
Quilmes v Temperley
Tigre v Atl. Tucumán

Episode 244: Boca impress again, Independiente get a win and previewing the Superclásico

The two hundred and forty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Peter meet to discuss Independiente’s first win in a while, against River Plate’s reserve side, and look into some of the struggles Gabriel Milito faces as manager. We have praise for Boca Juniors after an impressive win over Racing, ask whether Estudiantes’ grip on first place is slipping, and look at Banfield’s remarkable upturn in form, as a week after beating the league leaders they’ve now claimed a win over second placed Newell’s Old Boys. All this, and some pre-superclásico thoughts too, as River Plate prepare to host Boca Juniors this Sunday. Enjoy!

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Mystic Sam’s and Mystic Peter’s joint predictions for round 13 (last week Mystic Gav got 5/15)
Aldosivi v Patronato
Sarmiento v Tigre
Temperley v Godoy Cruz
Vélez v Atl. Rafaela
Talleres v Newell’s
San Lorenzo v Unión
Gimnasia v Belgrano
Racing v Olimpo
River v Boca
Banfield v Huracán
Colón v Independiente
San Martín v Estudiantes
Central v Lanús
Atl. Tucumán v Quilmes
Defensa y Justicia v Arsenal

Episode 242: Teo gonna Teo, River slump and Estudiantes still lead

The two hundred and forty-second episode of Hand Of Pod brings together Sam and Andrés to talk about a weekend in which the football was overshadowed in many press pages by Teo Gutiérrez once again being Teo Gutiérrez. The Rosario Central forward was sent off for his goal celebration during a 1-1 draw in La Bombonera. Elsewhere, River Plate lost 1-0 away to Newell’s Old Boys, and there are rumours beginning that Marcelo Gallardo could leave the club if he fails to bring home the Copa Argentina (the semi-finals of which will be played next week). Estudiantes still lead the league, and have found a replacement for injured goalkeeper Mariano Andújar at last, while the relegation situation is beginning to clarify a little even with twenty games still to go (we’re sticking our necks out now and saying Atlético de Rafaela will go down). There’s also news about the television rights negotiations.

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Mystic Michael’s eleventh round predictions (last week Mystic Chris got 4/14)
Temperley v Lanús
Talleres v Arsenal
Colón v Newell’s
Tigre v Quilmes
Banfield v Estudiantes
Atl. Tucumán v Belgrano
Rosario Central v Olimpo
River v Huracán
Aldosivi v Vélez
Sarmiento v Godoy Cruz
San Lorenzo v Boca
Racing v Independiente
Defensa y Justicia v Patronato
Gimnasia v Unión
San Martín v Atl. Rafaela

Episode 241: We are six! From despair to relief for Argentina, and returning to league action

The two hundred and forty-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés celebrate the podcast’s sixth birthday by discussing two Argentina matches; last Thursday’s awful defeat to Brazil in Belo Horizonte, and Tuesday’s much-improved win over Colombia in San Juan. Does the national team need a clearout? If so, who should be the new names coming in? We also round up some of the main stories from the last week, including Argentinos Juniors arguing with River Plate over youth recruitment, and suggestions that Argentina’s next World Cup qualifier, at home to Chile in March, could be played at La Bombonera. Oh, and there’s a return to league action this weekend to look forward to.

You can subscribe to us on iTunes or Stitcher, and follow us on Twitter.

Mystic Chris’s round 10 predictions (two weeks ago Mystic Hugh got 5/15)
Arsenal v Banfield
Estudiantes v Colón
Godoy Cruz v Tigre
Lanús v Atl. Tucumán
Unión v Temperley
Huracán v Racing
Quilmes v Aldosivi
Belgrano v Sarmiento
Independiente v San Lorenzo
Boca v Central
Atl. Rafaela v Talleres
Newell’s v River
Olimpo v Gimnasia
Patronato v San Martín