Episode 253: Tragedy in Córdoba, and River join the title race

The two hundred and fifty-third episode of Hand Of Pod features Sam and Andrés, who are joined via Skype by Luke Smith, who’s able to give us a Córdoba-dweller’s perspective on the tragedy that struck Argentine football over the weekend when Belgrano fan Emanuel Balbo was murdered in the stands at half time of the Córdoba clásico on Saturday. What exactly happened, and what the punishment might end up being for Belgrano are among the topics discussed. We also look over a weekend of football which saw River Plate – in somewhat controversial circumstances – become the only member of the top five to win  their match, and in so doing arguably join the title race, although they still have some distance to make up on Boca Juniors. As well as all this, there are listeners’ questions on the second tier and on the most southerly clubs in Argentina’s pyramid (which also happen to be the most southerly clubs in the world).

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

Mystic Luke’s twenty-first round predictions (last week Mystic Chris got 3/15)
San Lorenzo v Temperley
Aldosivi v Newell’s
Racing v Atlético Tucumán
Banfield v Quilmes
Defensa y Justicia v Lanús
Vélez v Unión
Central v Gimnasia
Estudiantes v Huracán
Atlético Rafaela v Boca
San Martín v Belgrano
River v Sarmiento
Talleres v Godoy Cruz
Arsenal v Independiente
Patronato v Olimpo
Colón v Tigre

Episode 250: What’s wrong with Argentina, and how to fix it, with Jonathan Wilson

This week’s episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Tony joined by the man who literally wrote the book on Argentine football, because Jonathan Wilson’s in town just for our two hundred and fiftieth episode (okay, not just for that). We have two awful performances from the Argentine national team to discuss – a win over Chile and a defeat away to Bolivia – as well as Lionel Messi’s suspension for saying some naughty words to a linesman, Edgardo Bauza’s future job security now the AFA (hours before we began recording) finally has a new president and board of directors, and a nearly full round of Primera División matches, since the summer delay meant the AFA is obliged to play through the international break in order to catch up the season a bit in terms of how far it ought to have progressed by now. Enjoy.

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

Mystic Vincent’s eighteenth round predictions (last week Mystic Dez got 10/14!)
Atl. Tucumán v Gimnasia
Independiente v Vélez
Newell’s v Atl. Rafaela
Temperley v Aldosivi
Quilmes v Racing
Belgrano v Colón
Boca v Defensa y Justicia
Estudiantes v Arsenal
Lanús v Banfield
Sarmiento v Central
Tigre v San Lorenzo
Huracán v Patronato
Godoy Cruz v River
Olimpo v San Martín
Unión v Talleres