In this Pilgrims Podcast Christmas special, host Archie is joined by Mark Lovell and special guest Marie Hourihan, Head Coach of Plymouth Argyle Women.

They reflect on Marie’s impressive playing career at the highest level of the women’s game and chart the rapid evolution of women’s football during her time as a professional. Marie discusses her experiences working under elite coaches, including Emma Hayes, and how those influences have shaped her own coaching philosophy.

She talks candidly about the transition from player to coach, the growing pathways now available for women to remain in the game, and the importance of understanding resources, environments and people when building a successful team. The conversation also explores recruitment, with Marie outlining a data-informed, player-focused approach and stressing the value of a strong team spine, particularly the role of goalkeeper.

Attention then turns to the current Argyle Women’s season, the challenges faced so far, and the club’s promotion ambitions.

The episode concludes with a wider discussion on alignment within football clubs, the importance of visibility and support for the women’s game, and Marie’s hopes for the future.

Merry Christmas, Greens. Thanks for all your support this year, and enjoy this episode with the brilliant Marie Hourihan.

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Argyle collect another win away from home but this time it’s a goal fest. Alex, Mark and Tom dissect a five-star performance from the Greens, who made mincemeat of their opposing Yorkshires: from the individual excellence from hat-trick hero Laurent Tolaj and his assister-en-masse Owen Oseni, to good shows of experience from the likes of Ralls, Edwards and Sorinola - and most notably the systemic changes of recent weeks to a 4-4-2.

The panel also continue the conversation as to the extent of the influence of Derek Adams on first team results, what another high scoring win away from home says about the quality of player we have, and whether there corner has actually been turned this time, and the playoffs are in sight, or if the rollercoaster continues to twist and turn after Christmas.

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Two wins in a row. So surely everyone is bouncing off the walls with pre-Christmas cheer. Well, not quite.

Liam and Seve join regulars Archie, Mark and Chris, and in Part One pragmatism is the name of the game. Some outstanding performances at the back, slowly tapering the further up the field, punctuated by a great goal just before half-time. Should we expect more, or is it misery to do anything but applaud another back-to-the-wall effort? The bar is low, but we are starting to clear it.

We also have a voice note from journalist John Duerden, sharing his full-time thoughts. John has a new website launching on 1st January: “An outsider's view of the ups and downs of Plymouth Argyle FC. Features, news, interviews & much more.”

Part Two sees the return of the quiz! We look back a couple of years to a very different Rotherham game and pine for a squad that, in hindsight, had some absolute superstars. Having a copy of the squad from the season before is NOT cheating.

Part Three tries to tie things in festive bows. Are we actually improving, or is this a false dawn? Should we be happy with what we’ve got, or demand more? Or should we take it all a little less seriously and enjoy the moment? The diversity of opinion reflects an unusual time for the club, where a slide down or a spring up seems equally possible.

Six-pointer next at Doncaster. Let’s hope the rebuild continues…

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A vital win in Buckinghamshire for the men's team, plus the Argyle women are flying too!

(26:53) Christian Kent - Executive Lead for Argyle Women.

To Wycombe and, football purists look away now, but three points in the road (again) provides increasing evidence that shape and solidity are helping, at least away. Chris, Mark and Tom review a game low on chances and skill, but high on heart, commitment and clinical finishing. Lots of 7/10 performances, bodies on the line and good old fashioned fight steal 3 points from a nil nil draw. Gareth Ainsworth (or a certain Mr Adams) would be very proud of the shithousery.

Part 2 and focus turns - deservedly and belatedly - to the women’s team. Tom and Mark spend time with Christian to review a brilliant season to date and to discuss ambitious plans for the future.

Finally thoughts turn to the weekend for Tom Cleverley's side. Build on the win with another rearguard action or take the momentum to try something a bit more footballery? Who’d be a Head Coach….?

COYG

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Running out of things to say, really. Slightly improved, yes. But the result is sadly, awfully, terribly predictable. Archie, Chris and Mark do their best to think of some original light to shine into the December gloom.

Part One, the game. A bright start followed by a slow decline but some positives and some experienced heads did give some temporary hope that midweek cup success may have provided a platform. Instead, a soft penalty (we would absolutely have wanted it given for us) and very little else condemns us to a fourth consecutive home defeat. Should the youth players get more of a chance? Should we at least try to win?

Part Two tries to zoom out a little. Relegation seems ever more possible but a few quick wins and the division is tight enough that it could all be okay. Or doomed by February. And a well constructed, well received Chairman’s Chat at risk of being undermined by actions and words on and off the field.

What could be better than a trip to Wycombe next?

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Archie hosts this special, mammoth-length edition of the Pilgrims Podcast, joined by Tom, Mark and James as the gang piece together a dreadful afternoon at PL2. A truly miserable home capitulation to Northampton, capped by Tolaj’s sending off and a second-half showing that drained what little apathetic, resigned energy remained inside Home Park.

There’s plenty to chew over: the Fans Forum and what it did manage to clarify, the baffling continued backing of a head coach in Tom Cleverley who appears increasingly out of his depth, and the ever-more troubling details behind the club’s “perilous” financial situation.

And yet, even through the gloom, there’s the faintest glimmer, the signs of life shown in that last-gasp win over Leyton’s O-Team, with BBC Radio Devon’s Michael McCann providing us his match report and thoughts. A rare bright spot that might just offer something worth clinging to.

All that and plenty more as the pod crew recover from their long, painful trek to PL2, therapy microphones firmly switched on.

COYG

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We won! We won away! So why doesn’t it feel like it? Tom, Mark and Chris are joined by Radio Devon’s Drew Savage to review a win - an away win! - that had as many questions as answers.

Part one balances the relief of a win with ongoing concerns - especially about the first 45 minutes - that there is still much to fix. But there was a great goal, some defensive grit, a resolute and experienced rearguard action that gives some hope. Would we have been so kind if Port Vale had been more ruthless with their chances? Luckily we will never know.

Part two focuses on genuine broader positives. A quick review of Derek’s first week before a celebration of the success of the Argyle women’s team, ongoing resurgence and the bigger picture with Foulston Park. Finally, looking forward to a home game against Northampton and the pod team and friends gathering for some Plymouth and some Argyle.

Can we build on this? Let’s see….

https://ko-fi.com/pilgrimspodcast

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Archie is joined by Tom, Dan and James from One Team In Devon to unpack initial thoughts on the return of Derek Adams.

Nostalgia aplenty, the panel discuss whether Argyle’s pivot is a shift back in model, while weighing up the benefits and risks in the short term and the long term of placing faith once again in Adams, who had great success but also a fall from grace when last employed in PL2.

The guys also discuss how the arrival of Adams reshapes relationships and responsibilities within the club, notably with Tom Cleverley and David Fox, who have not (yet) been asked to walk the plank.

Any contribution towards running costs is always welcome:

https://ko-fi.com/pilgrimspodcast

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We lost again.

Archie and Tom try to make sense of another miserable game for Argyle, as familiar failings return and the pressure on Tom Cleverley grows. Fans Liam and Paul leave voice messages with their thoughts on the game, setting the tone before the pair of Arch and Tom unpack the performance – a decent start, then a collapse that felt all too familiar.

There’s reaction to Cleverley’s post-match comments, questions over tactics and leadership, and a discussion about his remarks on summer recruitment – some finger-pointing towards those above him, and whether airing that frustration publicly undermines Paul Berne’s call for unity. The pair further discuss Berne’s public backing of the manager, the club’s messaging, and whether stability has started to look like stagnation.

Fifteen games in, the point Cleverley asked to be judged at, and the verdict feels clear. The pod wrestles with the big question: if not now, when?

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Trigger warning: we lost 2–0, again. And it contains strong language, appropriately.

Archie, Chris, Mark and Tom explore a game that was at once unique and exactly the same. A radio-only experience, unless you were one of the poor souls who watched that, in the rain, and some who had 30 minutes of our local rivals winning in Halifax.

Less structure, nuance and focus than normal; a pod of raw emotion. Yes, a defeat, but another game with no attacking intent, multiple defensive lapses and a lack of demonstrable heart.

Consensus is that the head coach’s position is increasingly untenable, but a public backing in the week leaves everyone wondering what, if not an exit, can come next.

It’s a hard listen, and it’s painful. It’s repetitious, but so was the game.

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