Episode 114: Teo Gutiérrez’s never-ending transfer saga, Argentinos leading the way & more

We’re only three rounds into the season, but all the same it’s a little bizarre to be looking at a league table and seeing Argentinos Juniors on top of it. In the hundred and fourteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Santiago sings the praises of their manager Ricardo Caruso Lombardi, Sam continues to get exasperated by River Plate’s eternal struggles to get Teo Gutiérrez registered to play, and Joel is the usual voice of calm reason. We also consider Boca Juniors’ and Estudiantes de La Plata’s improvement, why Rosario Central haven’t yet lived up to the promise of the opening weekend, and how much trouble Luis Zubeldía is in at Racing, as well as Gerardo Martino’s barely acceptable start as Barcelona manager. Listeners’ questions include whether Lionel Messi really needs to win a World Cup before he’ll be considered better than Diego Maradona.

As ever, Mystic Sam’s predictions are right below, and you can subscribe to us on iTunes if you haven’t already by clicking here.

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

And in the remaining second round match (to be played on Tuesday)…
Newell’s v Gimnasia

Episode 105: Meltdown at Argentinos Juniors, no-one wants the title, & previewing Boca v Newell’s

Sam and English Dan are joined by Santiago for this week’s Hand Of Pod, in which we begin with a discussion of an astonishing couple of days at Argentinos Juniors, including manager Ricardo Caruso Lombardi losing his rag on live TV (hardly for the first time, it’s true) and much more. We also talk about the top three all failing to win in the Torneo Final at the weekend, Independiente edging closer to an unlikely survival, and promotions for Rosario Central (back to the Primera) and Talleres de Córdoba (back to B Nacional), before previewing the mini-series of games that Newell’s Old Boys and Boca Juniors will play in the next few days. Listeners’ questions include European transfer targets and Buenos Aires’ most dangerous stadia.

As usual, Mystic Sam’s predictions are below the line, and you can subscribe to us on iTunes by clicking here.

Episode 80: More love for Newell’s, another River win & previewing Argentina v Uruguay

Episode 80 of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Joel welcome guest Ed Malyon to Buenos Aires, and in a bumper episode we go through last weekend’s Torneo Inicial action – which included a woeful loss for Boca Juniors, a very impressive win for leaders Newell’s Old Boys and a thumping 5-0 victory for River Plate against Godoy Cruz. We also answer listeners’ questions on the sons of ex players coming through club youth ranks and more, and cast our eyes over Argentina’s upcoming World Cup Qualifiers – at home to Uruguay on Friday and away to Chile on Tuesday. Enjoy.

No Mystic Sam this week, but don’t forget you can click here to subscribe to us on iTunes, and follow our Twitter musings here.

Episode 74: Tax dodging and whining about the opposition – and that’s just River Plate…

In the seventy-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan, Joel and Dan are joined by Mariano, our tamed San Lorenzo fan, once again as we dissect an underwhelming weekend of Primera División action marked mainly by River Plate’s somewhat tiresome reaction to their own incompetence in last weekend’s 0-0 draw against San Lorenzo. We also look at a tax scandal involving player transfers (not only involving River, in case that headline confused you), consider Independiente’s ongoing turmoil, and run the rule over the latest national team squad, which includes Hernán Barcos, a player you could be forgiven for not having heard of if you don’t live in South America.

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

Episode 66: Boca’s slip-up, a big win for Tigre, Sabella’s progress with Argentina & more

The sixty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan and Dan meet to discuss Tigre’s impressive win over San Lorenzo in Sunday’s big relegation clash, and where it leaves both sides in the relegation table, as well as those around them. We also discuss Boca Juniors’ slip-up in drawing 1-1 away to Banfield, Alejandro Sabella’s charge of Argentina and Lionel Messi’s brilliant hat trick against Brazil on Saturday, River Plate going top of Nacional B with two games to go before the end of the season, and all the title race talk from the Primera, as well as looking at the Nacional B relegation struggle. There are some very silly listeners’ questions this week, but we answer them anyway.

As usual, you’ll find Mystic Dan’s eighteenth round predictions below, and if you want to subscribe to us on iTunes, you can click here.

Episode 62: Streetfighting managers, Newell’s lead the way & Libertadores hopes

The sixty-second episode of Hand Of Pod was recorded by candlelight, after an epic climb up many, many flights of stairs from Sam and English Dan. In it, along with Australian Dan, we discuss San Lorenzo manager Ricardo Caruso Lombardi’s streetfight with the assistant of his predecessor, Newell’s Old Boys new position alone at the top of the Primera División, River Plate’s position in the second division title race, and Boca Juniors’ and Vélez Sarsfield’s chances in the Copa Libertadores on Thursday night, following their 0-0 draw with one another on Sunday evening. Listeners’ questions this week include how much Sam weighs, and which club has the nicest looking female fans.

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