Episode 347: Previewing the 2019–20 Superliga

In the three hundred and forty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Andrés and Julian meet to preview the new Superliga season. Which clubs have had the best transfer windows? Which are in most trouble in the relegation battle? These and more questions are answered here. And our sponsors at Fanatiz are back! Head to http://www.fntz.co/hop and use the discount code hopfz to enjoy the new season wherever you are.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, and a Twitter page. You can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Episode 314: Racing extend their lead, River advance to the Libertadores semis and more

The three hundred and fourteenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and Tony to discuss a weekend on which there was less football than normal, due to a rainstorm which resulted in only one match being played on Saturday. Racing won that game to extend their Superliga lead (pending Atlético Tucumán’s game in hand), while Boca returned to winning ways and River’s reserves tonked Lanús, before beating Independiente 3-1 on Tuesday to qualify for the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores. We also have a look at Lionel Scaloni’s latest Argentina squad. HOP will be a little less frequent for the next few weeks, because Sam is going on holiday, but we’ll still have occasional episodes, and normal service will be resumed towards the end of November.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Last week, Mystic Lee and Mystic Liam drew 5-5. This week, as Sam won’t be totting the scores up next time out, he’s predicting on his own. Here are his picks for this weekend (Huracán v Argentinos and River v San Martín de San Juan are postponed due to the start of the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires this weekend).

Aldosivi v San Martín de Tucumán
Gimnasia v Godoy Cruz
San Martín de San Juan v Vélez
Patronato v Independiente
Banfield v San Lorenzo
Atlético Tucumán v Lanús
Rosario Central v Unión
Talleres v Belgrano
Racing v Boca
Tigre v Estudiantes
Colón v Newell’s

Episode 312: Copa Libertadores quarter-finals and a Boca v River preview

The three hundred and twelfth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Tony come together for a bumper episode, discussing the role of the VAR and all the others ins and outs of the first legs of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals (the three involving Argentine clubs, anyway), and previewing Sunday’s titanic clash in the Bombonera between Boca Juniors and River Plate.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

This week’s predict-off challenger is Mystic WaywardfromHayward.

Mystic Wayward
San Lorenzo v Patronato
Colón v Godoy Cruz
Newell’s v Lanús
Talleres v Vélez
Defensa y Justicia v Estudiantes
Banfield v Independiente
San Martín de Tucumán v Argentinos
Tigre v Huracán
Gimnasia v Central
San Martín de San Juan v Atlético Tucumán
Boca v River
Aldosivi v Belgrano
Racing v Unión

Mystic Sam
San Lorenzo v Patronato
Colón v Godoy Cruz
Newell’s v Lanús
Talleres v Vélez
Defensa y Justicia v Estudiantes
Banfield v Independiente
San Martín de Tucumán v Argentinos
Tigre v Huracán
Gimnasia v Central
San Martín de San Juan v Atlético Tucumán
Boca v River
Aldosivi v Belgrano
Racing v Unión

Episode 310: A Superliga summary, and an interesting international break

The three hundred and tenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés meet to discuss the action from the fourth round of Superliga 2018–19 action, which saw Racing leapfrog Rosario Central into the top spot by beating their visitors 2-0 in Avellaneda. River Plate and San Lorenzo drew yet again (with each other), Boca Juniors got back to winning ways, and Tigre once again scored two goals, but managed not to concede any this time. All this, and we’ve a preview of Argentina’s two upcoming friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia, as the national team begins a delicate rebuilding process after the trauma of the World Cup.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Episode 309: the Copa Libertadores suspension shitshow

The three hundred and ninth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés discussing a chaotic week of Copa Libertadores administration which saw much-publicised disciplinary decisions regarding River Plate’s Bruno Zuculini and Santos’ Carlos Sánchez in their ties against Racing and Independiente, respectively. As well as this, we’ve a roundup of the third round of Superliga action, which saw Rosario Central maintain their 100% record, and a number of belting goals.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Last week, Mystic Laurence thrashed Mystic Sam 6-2. This week, Mystic Jimmy is back.

Mystic Jimmy
Argentinos v Lanús
San Martín (SJ) v Huracán
Defensa y Justicia v Belgrano
Banfield v Patronato
Talleres v Godoy Cruz
San Lorenzo v River
Racing v Central
Estudiantes v Independiente
Aldosivi v Tigre
Colón v Unión
Boca v Vélez
Newell’s v Atl. Tucumán
San Martín (T) v Gimnasia

Mystic Sam
Argentinos v Lanús
San Martín (SJ) v Huracán
Defensa y Justicia v Belgrano
Banfield v Patronato
Talleres v Godoy Cruz
San Lorenzo v River
Racing v Central
Estudiantes v Independiente
Aldosivi v Tigre
Colón v Unión
Boca v Vélez
Newell’s v Atl. Tucumán
San Martín (T) v Gimnasia

Episode 308: Boca slip up, and Central take advantage

The three hundred and eighth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés discuss a weekend of Superliga action in which River Plate flattered to deceive, Boca Juniors lost and thus ended a long run of being top or joint top, and Edgardo Bauza’s Rosario Central got another 1-0 win thanks to a headed goal.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Last week, Mystic Jimmy beat Mystic Sam 4-3. This week’s challenger is Mystic Laurence.

Mystic Laurence
Belgrano v Estudiantes
Patronato v Racing
Atl. Tucumán v Colón
Independiente v Defensa y Justicia
Gimnasia v Talleres
Tigre v San Martín de San Juan
River v Argentinos
Huracán v Boca
Vélez v Banfield
Lanús v Aldosivi
Central v San Martín de Tucumán
Godoy Cruz v Newell’s
Unión v San Lorenzo

Mystic Sam
Belgrao v Estudiantes
Patronato v Racing
Atl. Tucumán v Colón
Inependiente v Defensa y Justicia
Gimnasia v Talleres
Tigre v San Martín de San Juan
River v Argentinos
Huracán v Boca
Vélez v Banfield
Lanús v Aldosivi
Central v San Martín de Tucumán
Godoy Cruz v Newell’s
Unión v San Lorenzo

Episode 307: A less than thrilling first round, and national team news

The three hundred and seventh episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés look back on a Superliga opening round that was notable for three teams only drawing after going 2-0 up, and not an awful lot else apart from Huracán’s atrocious pitch. There’s some Copa Libertadores action to review as well, and we also tackle some of the likely names in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad, which was announced about 14 hours after we finished recording.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Last week, Mystic Sam correctly predicted four of the thirteen results. This week, we have a full complement of fourteen fixtures to be played, and Mystic Jimmy is the first challenger of the season.

Mystic Jimmy
Talleres v Central
Newell’s v Independiente
Defensa y Justicia v Atl. Tucumán
Banfield v Gimnasia
Argentinos v Godoy Cruz
River v Belgrano
San Martín (SJ) v Patronato
Colón v Tigre
Aldosivi v Huracán
San Lorenzo v Lanús
Racing v Vélez
Estudiantes v Boca
San Martín (T) v Unión

Mystic Sam
Talleres v Central
Newell’s v Independiente
Defensa y Justicia v Atl. Tucumán
Banfield v Gimnasia
Argentinos v Godoy Cruz
River v Belgrano
San Martín (SJ) v Patronato
Colón v Tigre
Aldosivi v Huracán
San Lorenzo v Lanús
Racing v Vélez
Estudiantes v Boca
San Martín (T) v Unión

Episode 305: the new season is just around the corner

The three hundred and fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés all excited because there are fewer than ten days remaining until the start of the 2018–19 Superliga season, and we’ve got some kickoff times to tell you about. We discuss which teams still have some work to do in the transfer market (including a bit of a fuss about whether Boca Juniors should be allowed to sign the left back they want), River Plate’s rather lovely kit, which is free of sponsors on the chest until December, and the AFA’s apparent decision to wait until December before deciding on a new manager; it seems youth team managers Lionel Scaloni and Pablo Aimar will be in charge of the Argentina team who will head to the United States for friendlies against Colombia and Guatemala next month.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Episode 303: Replacing Sampaoli, and the Superliga season to come

The three hundred and third episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés to discuss where the Argentine national team go next after parting ways with Jorge Sampaoli, and also to look forward to the upcoming Superliga season (the fixtures for which were released on Thursday, after we recorded this episode) and go over the main transfer business of the window so far.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn. And if you’d like to help support the pod financially, you can find us on Patreon.

Episode 293: Boca win a second straight title

It was fitting, given the way the season has gone, that Boca Juniors sealed their second consecutive league title with a draw in which they almost seemed to be trying to let the point slip away from them at times. In the two hundred and ninety-third episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by Andrés and Mariano to discuss Boca’s title, why none of the chasing pack (not least San Lorenzo) had the wherewithal to make it into a proper title race, and all the ups and downs of the penultimate weekend of Superliga action, as well as looking forward to the final round of games.

A reminder that HOP is now on Patreon, where you’ll find two extra mini-episodes each week if you support us to the tune of US$5 per month or more. The latest HOP Extra, recorded right after we finished up episode 292, is already online. You can join the ranks of our supporters here.

You can follow HOP in various ways. We have a Facebook page, for example, and we’re on Twitter as well. You can subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Last week, Mystic Sam beat Mystic Nate 7-3. This week, Mystic Chris is the challenger.

Mystic Chris
Chacarita v San Martín
Lanús v Atl. Tucumán
Patronato v Banfield
Defensa y Justicia v Arsenal
Olimpo v Talleres
Unión v Independiente
Belgrano v Temperley
Godoy Cruz v Tigre
Huracán v Boca
Vélez v Argentinos
Central v Estudiantes
Racing v Colón
River v San Lorenzo
Gimnasia v Newell’s Old Boys

Mystic Sam
Chacarita v San Martín
Lanús v Atl. Tucumán
Patronato v Banfield
Defensa y Justicia v Arsenal
Olimpo v Talleres
Unión v Independiente
Belgrano v Temperley
Godoy Cruz v Tigre
Huracán v Boca
Vélez v Argentinos
Central v Estudiantes
Racing v Colón
River v San Lorenzo
Gimnasia v Newell’s Old Boys