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.

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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 243: The Argentine response to the Chapecoense crash, and some less important stuff

The two hundred and forty-third episode of Hand Of Pod couldn’t be solely about Argentine football, given events earlier in the week. Sam, Andrés and guest Lex meet up to discuss some of the Argentine reaction to the tragic plane crash on Monday night, with tributes planned across Argentina – and the rest of the continent – this weekend. There’s also a look at a surprisingly entertaining clásico de Avellaneda, a very good performance from Boca Juniors and a rather fortunate win for River Plate, as well as Estudiantes’ first defeat of the season, among much more.

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Mystic Gav’s twelfth round predictions (last week Mystic Michael got 4/15)
Quilmes v Sarmiento
Huracán v Colón
Newell’s v Banfield
Atl. Rafaela v Defensa y Justicia
Tigre v Aldosivi
Godoy Cruz v Atl. Tucumán
Olimpo v San Lorenzo
Estudiantes v Talleres
Unión v Rosario Central
Patronato v Vélez
Boca v Racing
Belgrano v Temperley
Independiente v River
Arsenal v San Martín
Lanús v Gimnasia

Episode 116: Racing & Independiente’s new management, Argentinos’ fine start and much more

The hundred-and-sixteenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam welcome German/Swiss/Chinese Dan (who is actually English) to his living room, as well as Andrés Bruckner, who makes his HOP debut. Also appearing is Sam’s brother William, who’s in town for a couple of months. Topics up for discussion are Racing and Independiente’s new managers – both have been announced since we last recorded – Argentinos Juniors’ fine start to the season, River Plate’s continuing awfulness, Estudiantes’ renaissance, and the various Copa Sudamericana ties (as this episode is uploaded, River and San Lorenzo are approaching half time in the second leg of theirs). The uploading of this episode was delayed by Jewish new year festivities – Sam’s girlfriend is Jewish – so a belated Shana Tová to all our Jewish listeners!

Mystic Sam’s predictions, as ever, are below. You can click here to subscribe to us on iTunes.

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

Episode 110: Reviewing the Torneo Final & looking at the main moves in the winter break

The hundred-and-tenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Joel meet to look back on a memorable Torneo Final – what seemed like an emphatic championship win for Newell’s even though they only ended up three points clear of second placed River Plate, San Martín’s last day relegation, Boca Juniors’ hideous campaign, River’s qualified success – and forward to the main talking points of the winter break. We ask which players will be moving on and staying, what the main movers and shakers have to do with their squads, and attempt to explain how continental qualification works. There’s also the Hand Of Pod Best XI of the championship, and a look at how the Torneo Final would have looked had every match gone exactly as Mystic Sam predicted…

Don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter and subscribe to us on iTunes. And if you’d like a look at Mystic Sam’s league table and the Best XI, you’ll find them below.

This is what the Torneo Final would have looked like if every match had gone as Mystic Sam predicted (the goal tallies, obviously, weren’t predicted and therefore we’ve not filled them in)

Hand Of Pod Best XI of the Torneo Final

Saja (Racing)

Casco (Newell’s) —- L. López (Arsenal) —- Heinze (Newell’s) —- Vangioni (River)

Bernardi (Newell’s) — Pizarro (Lanús) — Cruzado (Newell’s)

Scocco (Newell’s) — Gigliotti (Colón) — Vietto (Racing)

Episode 109: ¡Newell’s campeón!, Independiente relegated & Lanús thrash River

The hundred-and-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Santi return to discuss an eventful week in Argentine football. Independiente were relegated last Saturday courtesy of a 1-0 defeat at home to San Lorenzo; Newell’s Old Boys won the championship on Wednesday without kicking a ball as Lanús – who’d thrashed River 5-1 on Sunday – failed to overturn a 2-0 half time deficit in completing their postponed match against Estudiantes. We discuss how deserving Newell’s win was and look at how they and Independiente had such wildly different seasons, having started 2012-13 on exactly the same (poor) standing in the relegation table. As ever, there’s a lot more besides.

As ever, Mystic Sam’s predictions are below the line. And don’t forget you can subscribe to us on iTunes!

Episode 101: some awful refereeing, an enthralling title race and the return of Mystic Dan

The hundred-and-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and English Dan welcome Joel back from his holiday, and the three are joined by Santiago again. We’re also reunited with Australian Dan, making a brief return to say hello and to resurrect Mystic Dan as a late marker of HOP’s 100th edition last week. We talk about some major refereeing controversies in four different matches at the weekend, the tightening title race (the top two are now level, and third placed River Plate are just two points further back) and ask whether Boca Juniors might be gradually showing signs of life, as well as Argentina’s representatives in the Copa Libertadores, the knockout stage of which began on Wednesday evening as this episode was being uploaded. Enjoy.

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Episode 96: Huracan FC London, dodgy refereeing, and a World Cup qualifying preview

In the ninety-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Joel are joined by Henry May, founding president and former centre back of Huracan FC London, possibly the world’s most famous London Sunday league side. We discuss All Boys’ 100th anniversary (and their lovely, lovely commemorative shirts), Lanús’ three point lead in the league, Independiente’s ongoing woes and the chances of Unión actually surviving – surely not…? We also discuss some bizarre refereeing decisions, and preview Argentina’s two upcoming World Cup qualifiers, at home to Venezuela on Friday night and away to Bolivia next Tuesday afternoon. And all four us have a go at predicting how those matches will go. (Note: since recording it’s become apparent Oswaldo Vizcarrondo has been upgraded from ‘out for three weeks’ to… perfectly fit to play this Friday. Hmm.)

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Episode 94: Unión ruin Riquelme’s comeback, San Lorenzo beat River & Lanús still lead

The ninety-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Joel reunited after a few weeks, to discuss a goal-filled weekend which saw San Lorenzo beat River Plate in the clásico, Lanús claim a point away to Dan’s Racing which took them top of the table, and Boca Juniors hilariously crash and burn at home to Unión on the day of Juan Román Riquelme’s comeback. There were two 3-3 draws, a policeman hitting a player in the face with a baton (and then reporting the player for assault!), and the announcement that Gerardo Martino won’t be staying on as Newell’s Old Boys boss at the end of the season – will Marcelo Bielsa be returning to replace him? The very thought has got us all excited…

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Episode 93: Racing collapse in the clásico, River & Lanús still lead, and more

Episode 93 sees English Dan appearing briefly by Skype, due to food poisoning – or maybe he was just too ashamed to show up in person after his side failed to turn up against Independiente in last weekend’s clásico de Avellaneda, losing 2-0. Sam is joined by real-life Arsenal de Sarandí fan Santiago, who fortunately caught most of the weekend’s action, and we discuss his team’s away win over Argentinos Juniors, what Gabriel Schurrer’s exit as manager could mean for Argentinos, and River Plate’s amazing 3-2 thriller over Tigre, as well as a lot more besides. And if you’ve ever wondered why Arsenal have a tower on their club badge, here’s the HOP episode where you find out. Enjoy.

As usual, Mystic Sam’s predictions are below the line. Don’t forget you can follow HOP on Twitter, and subscribe to us on iTunes as well.

Episode 92: Lanús & River lead & Independiente shock Vélez ahead of the Avellaneda clásico

In the ninety-second episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and English Dan are joined by Mariano the San Lorenzo fan to discuss a Torneo Inicial second round with one outstanding result; ten-man Independiente’s shock victory over champions Vélez Sarsfield. Away from Liniers, there were wins for both Lanús and River Plate, who go joint top of the nascent Inicial table, a win against Racing, inspired by Luciano Vietto, which sends both clubs into the clásico de Avellaneda this coming weekend in good spirits, and a draw for Mariano’s San Lorenzo which we discuss, as well as asking him for his thoughts on Viggo Mortensen’s charity flower seeds, and an update on the Return To Boedo (which is San Lorenzo’s plan to buy back the land their old stadium stood on, not another Lord Of The Rings film).

As ever, Mystic Sam’s third round predictions are below the line – and don’t forget you can subscribe to us on iTunes if you haven’t already.