Episode 25: the River Plate relegation playoff special

There’s only one topic for this week’s Hand Of Pod, and we make no apologies for that. Dan, Dan, Seba and River fan Sam try to make some sense of what none of us quite thought would come to pass: the news that River Plate endured the worst day in their 110-year history on Saturday, and will have to play the playoff against Belgrano de Córdoba to avoid relegation. Who’s to blame? And how do the playoffs work? There’s also praise for a magnificent afternoon’s league action on Saturday, and Sam has a rant at Twitter. It’s all cathartic.

There’s no Mystic Dan this week, but next week will see the ‘Clausura as it would look had his predictions all come true’ presented to the world. Oh, and if you’ve not already subscribed to us on iTunes, here’s where you need to click.

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 22: Tevez in the Copa América squad, & your votes are needed!

This week in Hand Of Pod, Sam, Seba, Dan and Dan give their opinions on Javier Mascherano’s sterling job at centre back in recent weeks for new European champions Barcelona, and discuss whether he might also be a good option in the role for Argentina. We run the rule over Carlos Tevez and the other names in Argentina’s Copa América squad – announced right before we started recording – and consider the latests developments in the domestic league as usual. We also want your votes in a poll to find the man our listeners feel has been the best Argentine in a foreign league during 2010-11. Please send them (just the one each, please) to awards@hastaelgolsiempre.com. We’ve suggested a few names for you, but the list is by no means limiting.

Remember, you can get HOP delivered straight to your iTunes by clicking here to subscribe. As usual, Mystic Dan’s predictions are below the ‘Continue reading’ line.

Episode 20: Superclásico review, Maradona’s new job & more

For the 20th episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan, Dan and Seba welcome special guest Asli Pelit to the show. Asli’s a Turkish TV presenter who was at La Bombonera to see Boca Juniors beat River Plate 2-0 in Sunday’s superclásico, and as well as giving us her impressions of that game, she also shares her thoughts on the most intelligent interviewees by position on the pitch, Julio Grondona’s Argentina mafia connections, and the sandwiches at Colón (worth remembering if you’re heading to a Copa América game in Santa Fe). We consider Diego Maradona’s prestigious new managerial position, and offer to act as underwear models for a well-known Argentine brand. Oh, and we debate the age of Racing striker Teófilo Gutiérrez. He turns 26 today (17th May), so well done Aussie Dan.

As ever, you can listen here, and subscribe on iTunes for your regular fix. Mystic Dan’s predictions are below the ‘Continue reading’ line.

Episode 19: the 2011 Clausura superclásico preview

In the nineteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan, Seba and Dan greet a couple of special guests to preview this Sunday’s superclásico in La Bombonera. Samuel (no, not Sam) is our tamed River Plate fan, and the four of us try to keep him from attacking Boca Juniors fan Ariel. The team discuss the key players, our guests’ memories of previous superclásicos, predictions and more, as well as looking over the action from the weekend just gone and contemplating Vélez Sarsfield’s status as the only Argentine side in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores.

Sam is the author of Hasta El Gol Siempre. Australian Dan runs Argentina Football World, English Dan edits Goal.com’s South American section (to which Boca-supporting guest Ariel is a contributor), and Seba is the websmaster of Mundo Albiceleste. In spite of their Spanish names, both HEGS and MA are English-language sites. Clicking each of our names above will take you to our Twitter accounts.

As ever, you can listen right here or subscribe to Hand Of Pod on iTunes. The videos mentioned in the pod of goals from previous supers are below, as are Mystic Dan’s predictions.

Episode 15: Racing full back’s impressive showing & an Avellaneda clásico preview

In the fifteenth episode of Hand Of Pod Sam, Dan, Dan and Seba discuss what we can only term a startling revelation from Racing full back Iván Pillud. We round up all the salient points from the Torneo Clausura in the weekend just gone, discuss Ariel Ortega’s latest indiscipline (and wonder how much longer he’s got left of his playing career), and look forward to the decisive matches for Argentine clubs in the Copa Libertadores. And of course, we couldn’t possibly overlook the fact that this weekend one of the country’s biggest and fiercest derbies will be fought out down in Avellaneda, as Racing Club host Independiente. All this and more on your weekly dose of HOP.

Mystic Dan’s predictions are written down for the record below the ‘Continue reading’ line, as usual, and don’t forget you can subscribe to us on iTunes if that’s what floats your boat.

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 3

'Try and look friendly and welcoming,' we told English Dan. You wouldn't want to see him on a bad day.

The third episode of Hand Of Pod is now online! Sam, Dan and Dan are in San Telmo this week, talking about Cristian Fabbiani’s waitline, River Plate’s uselessness in front of goal, an amazing few minutes at Banfield vs Racing, and the veterans currently lighting up the league. There’s also incisive analysis of Independiente’s Copa Sudamericana final opponents, Brazilian side Goiás (since recording this episode, Goiás won the first leg of the final 2-0 in Brazil).

As ever, our wonderful theme music is composed, performed and produced by Nick Ball.

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes! Clicking ‘Continue reading’ will reveal a photograph of Cristian Fabbiani, as promised in the podcast itself.