Plymouth Argyle

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

The 2024-25 Championship season might be over but there are many ways to analyse and reflect on the campaign that has gone before us.

Not every club can go up but if there are signs a team is moving in the right direction, it can still be considered good progress - or quite the opposite if things are on the slide.

Here is a look at how each of the 18 sides who were in the Championship for the past two seasons got on points wise compared to the 2023-24 campaign.

It perhaps comes as no surprise that Sunderland, who won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, recorded the most significant improvement after finishing 16th in 2023-24 and picked up 20 more points.

Despite a tumultuous season off the field, Blackburn were the second most improved side in the division, gaining 13 points on the previous campaign as they missed out on the play-offs by just two points.

Leeds racked up 90 points in 2023-24 but somehow still managed a 10-point improvement as they hit the 100 mark on their way to winning the title in their best-ever season in the second tier.

Millwall's seven-point improvement was enough to help them finish five places higher in eighth, but they fell short of the top six by two points.

Meanwhile, Bristol City were only six points better off but managed to climb five places and claim a play-off spot, recording their best Championship finishing position since 2007-08.

Coventry also only improved by five points but were able to jump from ninth to fifth, perhaps showing just how fine the margins can be in the Championship when it comes to securing a play-off berth.

At the bottom...

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You might want to look away now, Hull City fans.

The Tigers went backwards more than any other side compared to the previous season under Liam Rosenior, dropping from seventh place and three points outside the play-offs to only escaping relegation on goal difference on the final day.

Cardiff went from mid-table in 2023-24 to rock bottom and will drop down to League One for the first time in 22 years. It is pretty clear to see why as the Bluebirds picked up 18 fewer points compared to the previous season.

Norwich tumbled to 13th place after finishing in the play-offs a year before - an underperformance which ultimately cost Johannes Hoff Thorup his job as head coach.

Preston were 10 points off the play-off places in 2023-24 but picked up 13 fewer points under Paul Heckingbottom in what was their worst season since they were relegated from the Championship in 2010-11.

The Lilywhites' downturn was largely due to a major dip in form in the latter stages of the campaign, picking up only one win from their final 15 games (D7 L7) to avoid the drop by just one point.

West Bromwich Albion endured a disappointing season - for a club which always harbours ambitions of plying its trade in the top flight - with an 11-point drop off.

Albion's final points tally of 64 was their worst in the Championship since 1999-2000.

Plymouth may have only been five points worse off than they were in 2023-24 but having survived on the final day that season, there were to be no such heroics this time around and their two-year stint in the second tier is over.

And the rest...

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*All data based only on teams who were in the Championship in 2023-24 and 2024-25

Image source, Rex Features

Plymouth Argyle youngsters Jack Matthews and Joe Hatch have agreed new deals for the 2025-26 season.

Defender Matthews, 19, first agreed professional terms last year and spent last season on loan at Tavistock United and Taunton Town.

Hatch, 18, was prolific up front for Argyle's youth team last season and has signed his first professional deal.

He made his first-team debut as a late substitute in Argyle's 1-0 loss at Burnley last October.

Image source, Rex Features

Plymouth Argyle have started the search for their next head coach after Miron Muslic left last week to join German side Schalke.

Names such as Jack Wilshere, Rob Edwards, Ian Evatt and Michael Duff are being put forward by fans as possible options to succeed Muslic.

But Joe Bell from the Green and White podcast, which follows the ups and downs of Argyle, says stability is key after three different managers since Steven Schumacher left the club 18 months ago.

"When you think about the last couple of years, we had so much stability before Steven Schumacher left," Bell told BBC Spotlight.

"Since he departed for Stoke, we've lost all semblance of stability.

"It's our fourth search in a very short space of time for a head coach and we need to find somebody who's going to stick around."

"I hope it's a swift appointment, but it needs to be the right person," he added.

"Somebody who has promotion credentials in English football, preferably in this league, and maybe someone who isn't a flash name who won't be as attractive to other clubs when they're doing well at Argyle.

"If we can find that mix - and I don't know where we find them - but if we can get that together, we'll have found the right man."

Image source, Rex Features

We asked you for your views on who you would like to see take over at Plymouth Argyle after Miron Muslic's departure as head coach.

There were many names thrown into the hat, but some more often than others.

Here are some of the top names Argyle fans told BBC Sport they would like to see at Home Park.

Toots: How about Paul Wotton? Solid manager, knows Plymouth and has been around in his playing days.

Ben: I'd go for Paul Wotton if he's interested. Doing a decent job in the lower leagues and would show some loyalty.

Daryl: Luke Williams could be a contender. A promising, attacking manager looking to rebuild after not quite making it in the Championship with Swansea. Could be the man to get the best out of players like Rami Al Hajj and Michael Baidoo.

Simon: Give the job to Mr Argyle, Kevin Nancekivell. He is local, knows the club inside out & the area, exotic managers haven't done it in recent times!!!

Jacob: Rob Edwards would be the perfect man for the Argyle job. His modern football alongside his attacking focuses really reaches the consistency with Argyle's desires. We've played this type of football for many years now, from Ryan Lowe to Steven Schumacher - it worked.

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John: Big mistake to not reappointed Steven Schumacher. Perhaps we can beg Bolton with the Schalke pay-off. Better option than an unknown or a big name mercenary. Option B... Mr Warnock.

Bruce: Neil Warnock. His CV and successful record in both getting promotions and avoiding relegation is unmatched by anyone else likely to apply.

Mark: We need a manager who is loyal first and foremost… give it to Joe Edwards with Nance beside him and with the Green Army behind them.

Dan: I think it's time for Joe Edwards to take the job. We need someone with a strong connection to the club. No more six-month managers.

Andrew: I'd like Paul Wotton to be given the role. Whilst he hasn't managed at the highest level he has got experience and is Plymouth through and through. Lots of Argyle fans seem to pour scorn on the idea but for me he's our man, no question.

Simon: I think we do best at Argyle when we go about our business quietly. So no 'big' names, thank you. Our most successful managers over the past 25 years (Paul Sturrock, Ian Holloway, Derek Adams, Ryan Lowe) have been good managers looking for the next step, rather than well-known managers on their way down.

Steve: I'd give Wayne Rooney another go, League Two would be easier to win a game in.

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With head coach Miron Muslic set to leave the club - with German side Schalke looking like his new employers - who should Plymouth Argyle replace him with?

Do they need a big name, or someone who knows League One? Do they have to have an Argyle connection or should they come to the club with a clean slate?

The club has gone through a fair few head coaches since Steven Schumacher left towards the end of 2023 - first Ian Foster, then Wayne Rooney before being replaced by Muslic.

Should they just give the role to perennial caretaker manager and 'Mr Argyle' Kevin Nancekivell?

Let us know by clicking here.

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Plymouth Argyle centre-back Maksym Talovierov has been named in the Ukraine squad for their forthcoming international matches.

Ukraine take on Canada on 7 June before facing New Zealand three days later in end-of-season friendlies.

Argyle's 24-year-old record signing has won seven caps for his country since making his debut in March 2024.

He has yet to play for Ukraine since moving to Home Park in January after injury forced him to miss March's Uefa Nations League games with Belgium.

Image source, Rex Features

Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic says his side will "not roll out the red carpet" for title-chasing Leeds United on Saturday.

Argyle are all-but relegated from the Championship and face a Leeds team who know they will lift the title if they can win at Home Park.

Leeds are level on points with Burnley, but their superior goal difference means as long as they match the Clarets' result they will be crowned champions.

Meanwhile, Argyle need an almost impossible set of results if they are to stay up - they must beat Leeds and hope both Hull and Luton lose as well as requiring a 14-goal swing in goal difference.

But Muslic says his side's recent good form against promotion-chasing outfits stands his team in good stead.

"I think the top teams they just suit us, fit us," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"I think we should have confidence for a reason - Norwich, Coventry, Sheffield United - all the top teams that are far highly ranked than us, we managed not only to perform at a good level, we also managed in the end to grab the three points.

"The desire of Leeds to come here to win the game, to celebrate with the title, we don't have to speak about that, but we also have the desire to perform as strong as possible.

"We will not roll out the red carpet here for Leeds United, we will give them a proper fight."

Leeds United will battle for the title when they host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday (12:30 BST) for their final match of the season.

Leeds' superior goal difference means the currently hold top spot over rivals Burnley, but will need a victory to ensure they hold the trophy at the final whistle before ascending to the Premier League next season.

Argyle, on the other hand, find their fates heading in the opposite direction.

The visitors have been all but relegated to League One due to their poor goal difference and now compete to try and keep off the basement place currently held by Cardiff City.

• Plymouth Argyle are winless across their last 11 league games against Leeds United (D2 L9), losing each of their last five in succession whilst conceding 2+ goals in each.

• Leeds United have won each of their last four away league games against Plymouth Argyle, one more victory than across their prior 16 away meetings with the Pilgrims combined (W3 D4 L9).

• Plymouth have won four of their last six league games (L2), as many victories as across their prior 30 Championship matches combined (D11 L15). The Pilgrims are also looking to win four consecutive home matches in the second tier for the first time since April 2007.

• Leeds have lost each of their last two games on the final day of a league campaign, as many defeats as across their prior 15 such fixtures combined (W9 D4).

• Leeds United have won 28 league matches this season, their joint most in a league season along with the 2019-20 campaign. The 93 goals they've scored are also only bettered by the 98 they scored in the 1927-28 season.