The fourteenth round of the the 2011 Torneo Clausura has arrived, and that, of course, means it's superclásico time. Don't forget the Hand Of Pod preview episode. There are nine other games taking place this weekend though - or rather eight. Colón vs Huracán was supposed to be going on as I type, but has... Continue Reading →
In the nineteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, me, 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... Continue Reading →
Clausura: River slip up & Boca win in superclásico warm-ups
One week to the day before they meet in La Bombonera in the first competitive superclásico of the year, River Plate and Boca Juniors had very different weekends in the 2011 Torneo Clausura. River, needing a win to keep up the pressure on Vélez Sarsfield at the top of the Clausura, and also to gain a... Continue Reading →
On Monday, Diario Libre reported, in their first ever edition, that River Plate playmaker Erik Lamela had been bought by a management group, and is to be sold on to a European club at the end of the season (possibly Juventus). I've written a profile of Lamela, and a bit on why River haven't had much... Continue Reading →
Clausura: plenty of shock results tighten things up at the top (video)
Saturday was a day of unexpected results in the 2011 Torneo Clausura. Not one home side managed to win in the five matches played, with Banfield, Colón, Quilmes and Godoy Cruz all winning away, and All Boys scoring twice in three minutes to claim a point at Independiente. League leaders Vélez Sarsfield suffered a major... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
In the fourteenth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan and Dan are once again back on the fernet (after an alcohol-free episode 13), whilst Seba is dry as ever. We discuss the two giants of Argentine football; Boca Juniors, who had another Riquelme-inspired win, and River Plate, who scored an absolutely fantastic goal which... Continue Reading →
Boca Juniors get thrashed, and River Plate are held
The first Sunday of the 2011 Torneo Clausura saw Argentina's two giants enter the fray. Boca Juniors, who were one of the pre-season favourites for the title after a very strong showing in the summer friendlies, hosted Godoy Cruz - who like Boca are under new management - and were handed a 4-1 thrashing to... Continue Reading →
Chávez replaces Pérez in Argentina squad; Erviti to Boca; Camoranesi to River?
Since Sergio Batista's Argentina squad list was made official on Monday, it's been strongly hinted that one particular change would be made, and so it has come to pass. In a move that frankly makes one wonder why the Estudiantes midfielder was named in the first place, Enzo Pérez has been replaced in the squad... Continue Reading →
A youngster leaves Argentina, and a legend returns
It's been a week of big name moves in Argentina's footballing landscape, with three of the deals in particular standing out. On Friday it was confirmed that Diego Buonanotte will move from River Plate to Málaga of the Spanish First Division at the end of the season (he'll remain at the Núñez club for the... Continue Reading →