Episode 56: Racing’s poor form, Independiente win again, Trezeguet’s hero status at River and more

The fifty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Dan and Dan discussing Independiente’s win over Rafaela last weekend, Racing’s defeat away to Newell’s Old Boys, Boca Juniors once again topping the Clausura table and more, including the extraordinary start to David Trezeguet’s spell at River Plate. San Lorenzo changed managers this week (we recorded just before Ricardo Caruso Lombardi was confirmed as the new man) and Aussie Dan has a bit of a rant about clubs’ lack of imagination when appointing new bosses. Paulo Dybala gets a mention again, and there are more live questions, since that was so much fun to do last week. Mystic Dan isn’t trying to predict exact scorelines again, sadly.

As usual, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below, and you can click here to subscribe on iTunes and get us automated into your lugholes every week.

Episode 24: Vélez’s title, the relegation run-in… and Martín Palermo’s retirement

In the 24th episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan and Dan discuss Vélez’s title win on Sunday, and offer their commiserations to Lanús. Sam gives an impromptu history lesson about Alumni, the first side to dominate the Argentine top flight, English Dan tells us about an amazing comeback from Godoy Cruz away to Racing, and we take a look at the weekend to come, when five games will be played at the same time due to the relegation situation. There’s praise for Godoy’s Mariano Donda and Huracán’s Javier Cámpora, and we end by looking at Martín Palermo’s highly, um, moving farewell to La Bombonera.

As usual, Mystic Dan’s final round predictions are below the ‘Continue reading’ line. And here’s where to click if you like us so much you want to subscribe on iTunes.

Episode 23: Gambling, prostitution and language learning

In the 23rd episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan, Seba and Dan return to guide our listeners into the closing rounds of the Torneo Clausura. We cover the Nigeria v Argentina match last week which is being investigated by FIFA, Sam suggests Daniel Passarella might like to sell his body to help fund River Plate’s transfers this winter, and Seba learns a couple of new English words. English Dan teaches us about a Mexican hairless dog, and Australian Dan gets all mystic on us as usual. Oh, and we talk about some football as well! Vélez and Lanús are left fighting it out for the Clausura crown with two games to go (thouh Vélez exited the Copa Libertadores last week), and River are sweating on relegation. All this and much more lies in wait…

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

Episode 18: Four clásicos in three days, Riquelme’s TV ad & Lamela to Juventus?

In the eighteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan and Dan have to make do without Seba, but attempt nonetheless to sum up an action-packed weekend in the 2011 Torneo Clausura. As well as four clásicos and a seven-goal thriller in Banfield, we discuss Vélez Sarsfield’s and Estudiantes’ diverging form (and their Copa Libertadores chances for Thursday night), the news that Ángel Cappa and Gimnasia La Plata have parted company (as Sam guessed at a week or two ago), and Erik Lamela’s possible move before long to Europe. There’s also a Juan Román Riquelme TV ad (which we’ve got right here for your viewing pleasure), and a cautionary tale of what happens when a footballer thinks with his balls rather than his head.

As ever, you can listen to the pod right here, and subscribe to us on iTunes if you want to get it as soon as it’s out each week. Next week’s the superclásico special, so don’t miss out!

Mystic Dan’s predictions – and that Riquelme TV spot – are right here for those who’d like to read on.

Episode 17: Díaz quits San Lorenzo; the new old Messi, and the old old Torres

In the seventeenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Seba rejoins Sam, Dan and Dan. He’s not happy with the way referees have been treating his club, and he’s not afraid to make his anger heard, but a little surprisingly it’s another HOP-er who drops an expletive, for which we of course apologise unreservedly. We also discuss Quilmes’ recent upsurge in form, and English Dan tells us of an Argentine playing in Brazil who could be the next Messi (if it weren’t for the fact he turned 27 the day after we recorded). Seba, meanwhile, reminds us of José Sanfilippo, the man who was never known as the old Fernando Torres. We recorded on Monday, since when Vélez have won their Copa Libertadores first leg against LDU Quito 3-0, and Estudiantes drew theirs 0-0 at home to Cerro Porteño. Lanús and Olimpo, in Monday night’s game, drew 1-1.

As ever, Mystic Dan’s predictions are right here, and you can subscribe on iTunes if you so please.

Episode 13: Di María’s poor show against USA & Riquelme’s brilliance

The thirteenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Dan, Seba and Dan discussing things in a remarkably sober manner. We look back on the USA vs Argentina friendly on Saturday, considering the performance. Seba has a few words he wishes he could say in Ángel Di María’s ear, and they’re not complimentary. Looking at the local league, we discuss the laughable idea that Boca Juniors might still win the title (they’re 17th), and the brilliance of Juan Román Riquelme’s goal for them at the weekend. And for some reason Seba and English Dan aren’t eager to talk about Racing this week. You’ll have to listen to find out why.

As ever, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below, and don’t forget if you want to you can subscribe to us on iTunes.

Episode 10: Pastore transfer talk & River the ‘South American Barcelona’

In Episode 10 of Hand Of Pod, Sam introduces you to his new home, where he’s joined by the Dans and our special studio guests Katie and Jenny (Seba couldn’t make it this week). We discuss rumours that Javier Pastore might be set to move to Manchester United or Barcelona, as well as Matías Almeyda’s interesting statement that River Plate are set to soon become a South American version of the latter. Aussie Dan fills us in on the first clásico at the newly-opened Estadio Único de La Plata, and there are also questions from Twitter on why Racing have suddenly improved so drastically, and whether the Argentine league is slowly ‘decentralising’. And there’s the usual rundown of the local action, and Mystic Dan’s predictions for the weekend ahead.

As ever, you can listen/download right here, and subscribe on iTunes to make sure you don’t miss future episodes. And click ‘Continue reading’ under the Soundcloud widget for a written record of Mystic Dan’s predictions.

Hand Of Pod Episode 8: Tevez vs Batista

In the eighth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan, Dan and Seba examine the recent (and ongoing) feud between Carlos Tevez and Argentina’s national manager Sergio Batista – and AFA President Julio Grondona. They also look back on an interesting clásico clash between Racing and Boca Juniors in Avellaneda, and look forward to the coming weekend’s matches, including a big derby clash between River Plate and Independiente. And Sam’s got confirmation of a controversial rumour from late last year that was discussed in a 2010 episode of the show.

You can listen or download (the downward-pointing arrow) right here on the blog, or subscribe on iTunes. And if you’d like to see Mystic Dan’s weekend predictions neatly laid out, just click ‘Continue reading’ below the listening widget.