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Hand Of Pod

503 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 29 ratings

The English-language Argentine football podcast, fuelled by fernet since 2010

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Episodes

Episode 248: Finally reviewing the first football of 2017

March 16, 2017 16:43 - 1 hour - 68.1 MB

The first weekend of Argentine football this year has finally been played, and in HOP248 Sam and Andrés are here to go over the main talking points, consider how many teams were affected by a long and hard-to-time-just-right pre-season (nearly all of them) and look at whether this factor also influenced performances in the Copa Libertadores (yes). Boca Juniors were the undoubted winners of the weekend, though San Lorenzo also took advantage. Listeners' questions include Copa Libertadores qual...

Episode 247: Summer madness

March 02, 2017 22:23 - 1 hour - 82.4 MB

What on Earth is going on in the world of Argentine football? The season was supposed to get underway on the second weekend of February and was only finally scheduled at all last week, and now we have some dates and kick off times it's still not been anything like clear whether this weekend's matches will even be played. Sam, English Dan and Andrés are back for the first HOP of 2017, and even by the standards set by Argentine football since we started recording in 2010, this one might get eye...

Episode 246: Rounding up the last weekend of 2016 action

December 22, 2016 03:44 - 1 hour - 90.3 MB

The two hundred and forty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod is the last one of the year. Sam, Andrés and English Dan round up the last week of Primera action this year, which included two good results for River Plate (who claimed the Copa Argentina last week), another big win for Boca Juniors, who thus end the year at the top of the table, more dropped points for Estudiantes and plenty of other talking points, including a number of emotional farewells to players and various managers either resigni...

Episode 245: reviewing the Superclásico and preparing for the end of the year

December 15, 2016 19:46 - 1 hour - 71.7 MB

The two hundred and forty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod is the penultimate one of 2016, and Sam and Andrés meet to discuss Boca Juniors' 4-2 away win over River Plate in what - even as River sympathisers - we cant deny was a tremendously entertaining superclásico. Carlos Tevez was superb, and as well as praising his performance we also look at the reports he might be off to China soon. For River, there's a chance for some compensation in the form of the Copa Argentina final against Rosario Cen...

Episode 244: Boca impress again, Independiente get a win and previewing the Superclásico

December 09, 2016 00:55 - 1 hour - 74.2 MB

The two hundred and forty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Peter meet to discuss Independiente's first win in a while, against River Plate's reserve side, and look into some of the struggles Gabriel Milito faces as manager. We have praise for Boca Juniors after an impressive win over Racing, ask whether Estudiantes' grip on first place is slipping, and look at Banfield's remarkable upturn in form, as a week after beating the league leaders they've now claimed a win over second place...

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

December 01, 2016 19:40 - 56 minutes - 52 MB

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 Plat...

Episode 242: Teo gonna Teo, River slump and Estudiantes still lead

November 24, 2016 17:25 - 1 hour - 79.5 MB

The two hundred and forty-second episode of Hand Of Pod brings together Sam and Andrés to talk about a weekend in which the football was overshadowed in many press pages by Teo Gutiérrez once again being Teo Gutiérrez. The Rosario Central forward was sent off for his goal celebration during a 1-1 draw in La Bombonera. Elsewhere, River Plate lost 1-0 away to Newell's Old Boys, and there are rumours beginning that Marcelo Gallardo could leave the club if he fails to bring home the Copa Argentin...

Episode 241: We are six! From despair to relief for Argentina, and returning to league action

November 18, 2016 15:56 - 1 hour - 60.5 MB

The two hundred and forty-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés celebrate the podcast's sixth birthday by discussing two Argentina matches; last Thursday's awful defeat to Brazil in Belo Horizonte, and Tuesday's much-improved win over Colombia in San Juan. Does the national team need a clearout? If so, who should be the new names coming in? We also round up some of the main stories from the last week, including Argentinos Juniors arguing with River Plate over youth recruitment, and...

Episode 240: Boca finally win away, and previewing Brazil v Argentina

November 10, 2016 05:58 - 1 hour - 72.9 MB

In the two hundred and fortieth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés discuss a weekend of Primera action in which River Plate improved somewhat from recent showings to draw with top of the league Estudiantes, and Boca Juniors won away in the league for the first time since February. There was also an impressive win for Racing against Newell's Old Boys, while Independiente dominated but still couldn't score against Rosario Central. The main course of this week's podcast is of course a previe...

Episode 239: Estudiantes continue to impress, and River's defence continues to disappoint

November 03, 2016 20:06 - 1 hour - 71 MB

In the two hundred and thirty-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés discuss the main talking points from last weekend's Primera División action, including yet another three points for an Estudiantes side who continue to lead the league, and yet more goals conceded for River Plate, who threw away a 2-0 lead against the worst team in the Primera to draw 2-2. There's also a look at Boca Juniors' demolition of Temperley and San Lorenzo reserves' very entertaining 2-2 draw away to second-pl...

Episode 238: Estudiantes stay top, Newell's end their Central hoodoo and more

October 26, 2016 16:56 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MB

In the two hundred and thirty-eighth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Tony are joined by Tony's flatmate Jorge to discuss a weekend of action which saw Estudiantes win the big top of the table clash away to San Lorenzo, and Newell's Old Boys end their eight year run without a win against bitter rivals Rosario Central. We also saw a rare clean sheet for River Plate, yet another away game without a win for Boca Juniors, and a club vice president asking to feel some balls, among plen...

Episode 237: Tearing up the formbook, and yet more AFA nonsense

October 20, 2016 21:29 - 1 hour - 60.9 MB

The two hundred and thirty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés convene on a rainy evening in Buenos Aires to discuss a weekend in which a storm blew through the Argentine formbook: three previously unbeaten members of the Big Five lost for the first time this season, as did Colón - who also conceded for the first time in this campaign. Estudiantes' defence was finally breached as well, although they managed to win anyway in a wildly entertaining 3-2 romp over Rosario Central, w...

Episode 236: What is wrong with Argentina?

October 13, 2016 17:37 - 1 hour - 64 MB

The two hundred and thirty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Peter convene to discuss the recent World Cup qualifying double-header: like the midfield on Tuesday night in Córdoba, there's not an Argentine in sight. We give our thoughts on two bafflingly below-par performances which saw Argentina gain just one point and lose a home World Cup qualifier for the fourth time ever, consider which names we would (and wouldn't) like to see in the national team setup, and more. And at the end,...

Episode 235: Central hit form, a dull La Plata clásico and upcoming World Cup qualifiers

October 05, 2016 18:07 - 1 hour - 78.6 MB

The two hundred and thirty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés convene to discuss a weekend of Primera action which saw a very dull derby in La Plata and, at almost the same time, a considerably more dramatic showdown in Banfield, where the hosts came back from an early 2-0 deficit to win 3-2. There was an impressive, if not uncontroversial, win for River Plate over Vélez Sarsfield, yet another failure to win away from home for Boca Juniors, and a first home win for ...

Episode 234: Estudiantes maintain their lead, Bauza names his second Argentina squad & more

September 29, 2016 19:29 - 1 hour - 62.1 MB

The two hundred and thirty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod is a two-man job, with Sam and Andrés discussing yet another win for Estudiantes, who've now won four out of four at the start of the league season, and two more points dropped for River Plate in a thrilling match, as well as an impressive Darío Benedetto-inspired win for Boca Juniors among plenty more. We then turn our attention to Tuesday's announcement by CONMEBOL of some exciting (and long overdue) changes to the Copa Libertadores w...

Episode 233: Estudiantes open up a lead, Boca and River both stumble

September 22, 2016 22:30 - 1 hour - 63.9 MB

In the two hundred and thirty-third episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Remi and Tony discuss a weekend of action which saw Estudiantes take a two-point lead ahead of River Plate at the top of the table, thanks to a 2-0 win over Atlético Tucumán before River were held at home to San Martín. Boca Juniors also dropped points, and questions marks once again hang over the team, while Atlético de Rafaela picked up a shock win over Gimnasia (who'd started the weekend joint top with River and Estudiantes) ...

Episode 232: River and Boca impress, the Big Five make history and much more

September 15, 2016 18:58 - 1 hour - 65.6 MB

The two hundred and thirty-second episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Fran and Andrés discuss very impressive wins for River Plate and Boca Juniors last weekend, as well as running the rule over early joint-leaders (along with River) Estudiantes de La Plata and Independiente. Last weekend was just the second time in the professional era that all of the Big Five have won to nil on the same weekend, although we caught rather less of Racing's and San Lorenzo's matches than we probably should have b...

Episode 231: Reviewing Edgardo Bauza's start as Argentina boss and more

September 08, 2016 18:22 - 1 hour - 82.7 MB

The two hundred and thirty-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and Tony to look back over two weeks of action: the first round of Primera División season, the highlights of which were a 3-0 away win for Estudiantes over Tigre and 4-1 home victory for River Plate against Banfield, and Edgardo Bauza's first two matches as Argentina manager, a 1-0 home win over Uruguay and a 2-2 away draw to Venezuela in two rather different performances. Tony predicts this weekend's matches a...

Episode 230: Previewing the new season & Jonathan Wilson on his new book

August 25, 2016 21:20 - 1 hour - 94.4 MB

At long last, the Hand Of Pod 2016-17 season preview is here! Sam is joined by Andrés and Tony to look over the main transfer moves and some of what we can expect from the main contenders on the pitch in the coming months, as well as explaining why we can only be definitely assured of football until December, for the moment. We also preview Argentina's upcoming World Cup qualifiers at home to Uruguay and away to Venezuela, since there will be no HOP next week as Sam's off to Mendoza to cover ...

Episode 229: a review of all the winter madness

August 18, 2016 22:26 - 1 hour - 71.4 MB

Hand Of Pod is back from a long, dark, at times a little bit chilly winter break! Rejoice! We were planning to preview the upcoming season this week, but since it's been put back by a week, Sam and Fran instead take the opportunity to bring you up to speed with at least some of the stuff that's happened off the pitch in Argentine football in the last couple of months - and there's a lot to get through, from Lionel Messi's international retirement (and decision to keep playing after all) to Ge...

Episode 228: ¡Lanús campeón!, and previewing the Copa América Centenario

June 03, 2016 05:32 - 1 hour - 69.5 MB

The two hundred and twenty-eighth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés look back on a weekend of two entertaining games in which Estudiantes saw off Godoy Cruz for third place (and thus don't have to wait to find out whether they'll be in the Copa Libertadores next season) and Lanús thrashed San Lorenzo 4-0 in the Monumental in the championship final to be crowned kings of Argentina for the second time in their history. We ask what's next for various clubs, look at Boca Juniors' Copa Li...

Episode 227: Farewell Diego Milito, and previewing the weekend's championship final

May 26, 2016 16:59 - 1 hour - 76.4 MB

The two hundred and twenty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss the last weekend of 'regular season' action from Argentina's Torneo de Transición 2016, which saw a lot of dead rubbers including an emotional farewell to Diego Milito as the Racing legend played his final match. Also discussed are where River Plate's campaign went wrong, and the meaningful games which saw Argentinos Juniors relegated, San Lorenzo qualify for Sunday's championship final against ...

Episode 226: Everything you need to know about relegation, final and Libertadores qualification

May 19, 2016 16:13 - 1 hour - 87.6 MB

This coming weekend wraps up the group stage of the 2016 Primera championship, and Hand Of Pod 226, with Sam, Andrés and Fede, contains all you need to know about the permutations. Godoy Cruz and San Lorenzo remain separated only on goal difference in their quest to qualify for the championship final against Lanús; one of them will take on either Estudiantes or Atlético Tucumán for a place in next year's Copa Libertadores group stage, whilst Argentinos Juniors and Sarmiento are the two sides ...

Episode 225: Lanús cross the line, Central & Boca fly the flag in the Libertadores

May 12, 2016 19:23 - 1 hour - 68.7 MB

The two hundred and twenty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and Andrés joined by Killian to look back over a weekend of league action which saw Lanús secure a place in their championship final by winning Group 2 with two matches to spare, whilst the race for the top of Group 1 remains neck and neck between Godoy Cruz (who are ahead on goal difference) and San Lorenzo. Now that River Plate are definitely out of the Copa Libertadores, there's the opportunity for some discussion of their st...

Episode 224: Lanús close in, Godoy Cruz win again and Argentina's Copa América shortlist

May 05, 2016 16:20 - 1 hour - 57.3 MB

The two hundred and twenty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod is short but sweet with plenty of food for thought. Lanús and Godoy Cruz continue to look like the two favourites for the title playoff - indeed, Lanús could confirm their place with two matches remaining depending on results this weekend - whilst last year's bigger sides all had underwhelming weekends due to Copa Libertadores commitments (Huracán went out on Tuesday night; River Plate and Racing followed them shortly after this episode...

Episode 223: A very dull round of derbies, Copa Libertadores knockout rounds begin & more

April 28, 2016 17:44 - 1 hour - 60 MB

The two hundred and twenty-third episode of Hand Of Pod was recorded by Sam and Andrés in a rather cold living room, because it's chilly in Buenos Aires at present and no gas in Sam's building means no central heating in Sam's building. The dedication we show to this podcast... anyway, we discuss a weekend of clásico action in which not very much happened, apart from one or two appalling fouls and some decent goals (but not many of them at all). Other topics covered are the AFA's need for new...

Episode 222: Copa Libertadores group stage round-up and much more

April 22, 2016 16:30 - 1 hour - 68.4 MB

The two hundred and twenty-second episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss the Copa Libertadores group stage, which has finished (or had almost finished, when we recorded) with five of Argentina's six clubs qualifying for the last sixteen - San Lorenzo are the odd one out. Boca Juniors' transformation under Guillermo Barros Schelotto continues apace; they've now scored ten goals in their last two matches, which isn't great news for their next opponents. Those next oppon...

Episode 221: Racing's inconsistencies, River's ongoing problems and some Libertadores mathematics

April 15, 2016 15:47 - 1 hour - 75 MB

The two hundred and twenty-first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and English Dan to look back on another goal-packed weekend of Primera action which saw Vélez Sarsfield hand Rosario Central their first home defeat in nearly a year and a half, Lanús get a well-deserved win over Banfield in the clásico, and Huracán claim victory by the odd goal in seven over San Martín. Racing are having consistency problems, and travel to La Paz next week in need of a result against Bolívar (a...

Episode 220: River and Boca's troubles, yet more goals, and surprise packages

April 07, 2016 18:22 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MB

In the two hundred and twentieth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Andrés, Fede and Remi discuss a weekend during which Rosario Central dropped points and River Plate lost, but Boca Juniors managed a marked improvement in a 3-0 win over Atlético de Rafaela and San Lorenzo came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home to Belgrano. Boca's injury woes and River's lack of proper reinforcements over the summer break are topics of conversation, as well as Lanús' and Godoy Cruz's continuing fine form.

Episode 219: two wins get Argentina's World Cup hopes on track, Messi's brilliance and more

March 31, 2016 21:55 - 1 hour - 60.7 MB

The two hundred and nineteenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and Fran to look back on Argentina's two recent World Cup qualifying victories, away to Chile and at home to Bolivia. The character shown by the team, the attacking play in both first halves and of course the six points were some of the positives (as was Lionel Messi's brilliance in both matches), but the displays weren't perfect by any means, and we run the rule over what could have been better. Listeners' questi...

Episode 218: Another goal-packed weekend, and Argentina's new WCQ challenges

March 24, 2016 15:40 - 1 hour - 82.3 MB

In the two hundred and eighteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Peter and Andrés have a bumper discussion beginning with the number of goals in the latest round of Primera action (52 in 15 matches)and travelling through the Big Five's iffy form and Ricardo Caruso Lombardi's latest streetfight to arrive at a preview of Argentina's two upcoming World Cup qualifiers, away to Chile on Thursday night and at home to Bolivia on Tuesday. Can the team keep up their good showing as Lionel Messi returns,...

Episode 217: Boca get their first win under GBS, an up-and-down week for River, and more

March 18, 2016 16:17 - 1 hour - 73.7 MB

Episode 217 of Hand Of Pod sees Sam welcome Andrés and English Dan to the studio to go over the last week in Argentine football with a fine-toothed comb. It's been a distinctly mixed seven days (and three matches) for River Plate, who were thrashed in the league but might have regained some confidence in the Libertadores on Wednesday night, and a good week for Boca Juniors, who claimed their first win of the Guillermo Barros Schelotto era on Monday. Estudiantes totally outplayed Gimnasia in t...

Episode 216: Reviewing the superclásico and an awful lot of goals elsewhere

March 10, 2016 16:14 - 1 hour - 66.4 MB

The two hundred and sixteenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Andrés and Fede look back on a rather underwhelming superclásico which nonetheless gave us plenty to talk about - largely because we've now seen Guillermo Barros Schelotto in charge of Boca Juniors for a week (they play away to Bolívar in the altitude of La Paz in the Copa Libertadores tonight). If River v Boca was one of the lowlights of the weekend, though, there was plenty of entertainment elsewhere: previously winless Tigre hi...

Episode 215: Boca Juniors change managers ahead of superclásico and more

March 03, 2016 15:53 - 1 hour - 88.4 MB

The two hundred and fifteenth episode of Hand Of Pod is a bumper one, as we've got a major talking point this week. Sam, Andrés and Boca Juniors fans Fede and Fran discuss Boca's decision on Monday to sack Rodolfo Arruabarrena and replace him on Tuesday with Guillermo Barros Schelotto as manager. Is this the change in direction the club needs? Can the new manager handle Carlos Tevez's influence on team affairs without upsetting anyone? And most importantly, with a Copa Libertadores game again...

Episode 214: San Lorenzo and River still can't defend, and are Boca back on track?

February 25, 2016 15:46 - 1 hour - 55.8 MB

Episode 214 of Hand Of Pod is short but sweet, as Sam and Andrés take you through the last week in Argentine football. There are some entertaining matches to discuss, with San Lorenzo's 3-2 win over Vélez Sarsfield and River Plate's 3-3 draw away to Rosario Central the highlights - though Boca Juniors' 4-1 win at home to Newell's Old Boys is also a topic of conversation, and Colón's unbeaten start to the campaign came spectacularly undone with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Godoy Cruz in Men...

Episode 213: Boca, Newell's and Vélez find their feet as others stumble

February 20, 2016 16:19 - 1 hour - 55.8 MB

Episode 213 of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and English Dan look back on two rounds of fixtures during which Boca Juniors almost lost a manager but ultimately kept him, and found their first win of the new year thanks to a goal from Carlos Tevez. As well as Boca, Newell's Old Boys and Vélez Sarsfield also both look rather better now than they did a couple of weeks ago, which makes Boca v Newell's a particularly interesting fixture this weekend. Newell's revival came in the form of a 5-0 tonking of Ra...

Episode 212: River thrash Quilmes, Boca edge towards crisis and the rest of the first round

February 12, 2016 06:21 - 1 hour - 74.3 MB

The two-hundred and twelfth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Peter, Andrés and returning panel member Rob Brown to look back on the opening weekend of Primera División action; matches which saw River Plate tonk Quilmes 5-1, Boca Juniors held to a 0-0 draw away to Temperley and Racing suffer the indignity of defeat away to newly-promoted Atlético Tucumán, among other results. Rodolfo Arruabarrena's job as Boca manager is in serious jeopardy after a 4-0 defeat in the Supercopa Argentin...

Episode 211: previewing the 2016 Primera División championship

February 05, 2016 16:58 - 1 hour - 94.5 MB

Hand Of Pod is back for 2016, and Sam is joined by Andrés, Fede and Fran to preview another transitional championship, confusing format, stupid non-existent clásicos and all! We run the rule over which sides had good summers, which had indifferent ones and which had bad ones - where do some of the recent big hitters need to improve after disappointing last year, and who apart from Rosario Central are best placed to break the Big Five, who were resurgent in 2015? As well as this we've a change...

Episode 210: River's Club World Cup campaign, AFA elections, playoff results and more

December 24, 2015 06:20 - 1 hour - 70.4 MB

The two hundred and tenth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, Andrés and Gustavo meet for a post-Hannukah (and pre-Christmas) podcast roundup of the last month in Argentine football, starting with River Plate's runners-up spot in the Club World Cup - and some alternative ideas for a format which could produce a more equitable tournament - and then looking back at the Argentine FA's hilarious/disastrous attempt to elect a new president earlier this month. We then give an overview of the final pla...

Episode 209: Huracán put River out of the Sudamericana semis, and the playoffs so far

November 28, 2015 19:48 - 1 hour - 60.3 MB

The two hundred and ninth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by English Dan, Andrés, Fran and guest Rob Crisp for a brief roundup of the qualification playoffs for the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, and a preview of the finals for same (including a Racing v Independiente double-header for the final Libertadores spot, which is going to be great fun for the neutral). On Thursday night, Huracán reached their first ever continental final, a 2-2 draw at home to Copa Sudamericana hold...

Episode 208: Argentina finally click in World Cup qualifying, and we gear up for the playoffs

November 19, 2015 21:22 - 1 hour - 55.8 MB

The two hundred and eighth episode of Hand Of Pod is a relatively short one (by our standards), in which Sam and English Dan meet to discuss the encouraging improvement in Argentina's performances in World Cup qualifying, which in the last week have seen them claim a (slightly unlucky) 1-1 draw at home to Brazil and a 1-0 win way to Colombia. Is Gerardo Martino's 'idea' any clearer, and how will it be affected when Lionel Messi returns to the team? We also look forward to the pre-Sudamericana...

Episode 207: Previewing Argentina v Brazil with Tim Vickery

November 12, 2015 16:57 - 1 hour - 98 MB

Episode 207 of Hand Of Pod is a very special one, because on Friday we turn five years old. Sam is joined for the celebration by Andrés, English Dan, Peter and very special guest Tim Vickery, who's flown down from Rio de Janeiro specially for the occasion. Entirely coincidentally to Tim's visit (honest), on Thursday night Argentina host Brazil in World Cup qualifying, so after a review of last weekend's most important league action - which saw Nueva Chicago relegated in spite of an impressive...

Episode 206: Tevez leads Boca to a domestic double, and what's still to play for?

November 06, 2015 16:53 - 1 hour - 81 MB

The two hundred and sixth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan, Andrés and Fede convene to talk about what might be Argentina's first proper domestic league-and-cup double (although given how young the Copa Argentina is, that's not quite as historic as it sounds). Carlos Tevez ended up making the difference for a Boca side who got cross the line in the title race on Sunday by beating Tigre, and who owed a large debt of gratitude to an eyecatchingly bad refereeing (and linesmanning) pe...

Episode 205: Boca & Central fight for a domestic double, two managers step down on one day and more

October 30, 2015 16:48 - 1 hour - 94.6 MB

The two hundred and fifth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam and English Dan joined by Tony, a long-time listener and first-time caller. It's a bumper edition, as we stick our teeth into last Friday's Copa Argentina semi-finals, which leave Boca Juniors and Rosario Central - the top two in the league - going head to head in the final next Wednesday in Córdoba. San Lorenzo's Edgardo Bauza and Racing's Diego Cocca both announced they'll be leaving their managerial positions at the end of 2015 mere...

Episode 204: Boca have to wait for the title, Chicago's survival hopes hang by a thread and more

October 23, 2015 03:21 - 1 hour - 76.2 MB

In the two hundred and fourth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by Andrés and English Dan for a look at last weekend's Primera División action, which saw Boca Juniors fail to capitalise on a fine chance to claim the title after San Lorenzo had lost - Boca were well beaten by Racing, and will need a result at home to Tigre next weekend in order to avoid a nervy title-decider on the last weekend away to Rosario Central. Nueva Chicago got a spectacular 5-0 win at home to Newell's Old Boys on...

Episode 203: Argentina aren't much cop without Messi, and will the title be decided this weekend?

October 15, 2015 22:30 - 1 hour - 71.3 MB

In the two hundred and third episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by Andrés, English Dan and Fran to look back on a disappointing start to Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign, in which without Lionel Messi to provide the inspiration they looked listless and took just one point from matches at home to Ecuador (a 2 -0 defeat) and away to Paraguay (0-0). Why was there no centre forward to call on when Sergio Agüero got injured? Is it worth continuing to call up Carlos Tevez? Is Javier Mas...

Episode 202: Boca close in on the title and Argentina gear up for World Cup qualifying

October 08, 2015 20:40 - 1 hour - 83.3 MB

The two hundred and second episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam, English Dan and Andrés convene to discuss a weekend of football which saw Boca Juniors open up an imposing six point lead at the top of the table with just three matches remaining. Following San Lorenzo and Rosario Central's 2-2 draw, Boca struggled a bit but still beat Crucero del Norte 1-0, as a result of which Crucero, to no-one's surprise, are relegated. Still clinging on to their Primera status - for now - are Nueva Chicago, who...

Episode 201: Advantage Boca in the title race, the AFA election candidates and more

October 01, 2015 19:26 - 1 hour - 79.2 MB

The two hundred and first episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and English Dan as well as newcomer Fran to discuss a weekend of action which saw Boca Juniors take a decent lead in the title race as San Lorenzo dropped points to Tigre. Rosario Central shouldn't yet be ruled out though, as they reminded everyone with a 4-0 thrashing of Gimnasia. We also run the rule over Jonathan Calleri, who if some English newspapers are to be believed is attracting interest from Arsenal (of Lond...

Episode 200: Tevez makes headlines as Boca stay top, Martino's first WCQ Argentina squad and more

September 24, 2015 22:24 - 1 hour - 107 MB

Hand Of Pod is 200 episodes old, and this week Sam is joined by Peter and Andrés for a champagne celebration in a bumper episode. We look back over a weekend of Primera action which saw Carlos Tevez make more bad headlines (for breaking an opponent's leg) than good (for scoring twice) during Boca Juniors' 3-1 win over Argentinos Juniors which saw them remain top of the table. There were a few belting goals as well, and there's praise for the fine form of Independiente, Quilmes and others. We ...

Episode 199: Boca go top with a superclásico win, and are away fans about to return to Argentina?

September 17, 2015 15:12 - 1 hour - 69.6 MB

The hundred and ninety-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod is a post-clásico-round edition, with Sam and Andrés looking back over a weekend which saw Boca Juniors beat River Plate in the Monumental to go top of the league after San Lorenzo had surprisingly lost their derby away to Huracán. Independiente turned in the only really impressive clásico performance, beating Racing 3-0, whilst a lot of the other derbies were rather damp squibs. There's discusssion of Newell's Old Boys' and Vélez Sarsfield'...