
<p>Manchester United beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night to advance to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/league-cup-tv-schedule/">Carabao Cup</a> semifinal. Goals from Antony and Marcus Rashford (two) propelled the Red Devils passed a lackluster Charlton club. The victory was the team’s eighth-consecutive win in all competitions.</p>



<p>Ten Hag made eight changes to the team that last played Everton in the FA Cup. Tom Heaten was given the starting goalkeeper spot for his first appearance of the season. 17-year-old midfield prospect Kobbie Mainoo also made his senior debut for the club as well. The England youth international has recorded two goals and two assists in 11 U-23 league matches during the current campaign.</p>



<p>Antony opened the scoring for United in the 21st minute of the match. The $100 million winger curled a beautiful shot into the corner of the net from just outside of the box. It was fairly similar to the stunner he scored against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> earlier in the season.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ANTONY WITH A BEAUTY FOR MANCHESTER UNITED! 😱 <a href="https://t.co/qYq0bGACp1">pic.twitter.com/qYq0bGACp1</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1612908697382158336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Defender Diogo Dalot had to be substituted in the first half, but it did not appear to be a serious injury. In fact, the fullback even made the ‘little’ sign with his thumb and forefinger when ten Hag approached him. Aaron Wan-Bissaka replaced the Portugal international in the match.</p>



<h2>Second half subs propel United to Carabao Cup semifinal</h2>



<p>Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford entered the fray in the 60th minute after Charlton enjoyed a decent spell with the ball. The subs seemed to put <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">United</a> back on top on the pitch. Facundo Pellistri also made his way into the match as well. The Uruguayan would mark his United senior debut with an assist just six minutes later.</p>



<p>Pellistri found Rashford in the middle of the box and the England international wasn’t going to miss from there in his current form. Rashford neatly placed the ball passed the Charlton goalkeeper for his sixth goal in consecutive games. He would not be done just yet.</p>



<h5>Rashford can’t stop scoring</h5>



<p>Rashford scored again in added time. The brace gives the forward <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1612932290396520454" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seven goals in the six matches</a> since the World Cup ended. United will now have to play Newcastle, Nottingham Forest/Wolves, or Southampton/Manchester City in the semifinals.</p>



<p>However, the Red Devils face their toughest test in quite some time when they face crosstown rivals City on Saturday in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a>. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


Marcus Rashford's late brace provided the comfort Manchester United wanted to get into the Carabao Cup semifinal.

Rashford on fire as United reaches Carabao Cup semifinal

<p><a href="https://amzn.to/3aNJDoo" target="_new" rel="noopener"></a></p><div><figure class="image"><a href="https://amzn.to/3aNJDoo" target="_new" rel="noopener"></a></figure></div><p></p>
<p>The football fan autobiography is a classic genre on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ultimate-guide-football-books/">our sports’ bookshelf</a>. Soccer, more than any other sport long invited fans and authors to write about their rooting experiences. These develop into valuable recruiting tools in places where European football fandom continues to grow.</p>
<p>This author is a fan of Arsenal because of <a href="https://amzn.to/3O2fi3S" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fever Pitch</a>, for example. But we are entering a new era that influences the quality and interest in this genre. The first is the rise of blogs and podcasts. These provide daily perspective as opposed to the staggered released from bookstores. The second is the COVID era. The game itself acts as a supporting character to larger societal issues.</p>
<p>Leading the way (at least chronologically) is <a href="https://amzn.to/3aNJDoo" target="_new" rel="noopener">The Year of the Robin</a> by Jen Offord. Offord is a <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/author/jen-offord">veteran sports writer and podcaster</a> who decided to more closely follow Charlton Athletic for a year. That year, 2019/20, proved to be particularly interesting on and off the pitch. As readers, we follow her and her family, as well as the larger Charlton family, navigating unprecedented times.</p>
<h3><em>The Year of the Robin book</em></h3>
<p>Offord picks up the story at the beginning of the 2019 season. She purchased season tickets for her brother as a gift as he soft protests the ownership of the club. As the season progresses, Charlton’s chances of staying in the <a href="https://www.worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/championship-tv-schedule">Championship</a> fade. Simultaneously, changes permeate on the pitch and at home. For the club, Charlton seeks new ownership while attracting fans and staying up. For Offord, it’s growing closer with her family and friends. Her direct family grows via pregnancy. Yet, societal issues push people away due to COVID-19 lockdowns.</p>
<p>As many of us know, Charlton suffered relegation on the last day. Offord expresses the range of feelings that come with a club battling relegation.</p>
<p>One twist Offord brings is interviews with Charlton fans from a variety of different, official positions. She speaks with LGBTQ club teams, advocates for female fans and clubs in soccer, long-time supporters, and anti-racism advocates about soccer in England today. Some of these conversations only briefly touch on Charlton. However, each shows her strength as an interviewer and someone who helps her subjects speak to important topics comfortably.</p>
<h5>Differing perspectives on a tumultuous year</h5>
<p>While reading this book, it struck me that this was almost a <a href="https://amzn.to/3O2fi3S" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fever Pitch</a> adjacent book. Our main character is not the soccer obsessive, which is the usual focus. Rather, it is the sister and friend who attends matches with the soccer obsessives. I enjoyed this similar style. Readers get to experience fandom with someone who jumps into and out of passion for a club. This, I’d argue, is the true experience of the majority of soccer fans. The pandemic first-person experience was also a jarring reminder of what 2020 was and what we experienced. Many more books will soon dull that chocking reminder.</p>
<p>I appreciated this book and Offord’s perspective on soccer fandom. <a href="https://amzn.to/3aNJDoo" target="_new" rel="noopener">The Year of the Robin</a> appeals to the majority of readers except those who only enjoy the most academic tomes. It adds an element to soccer books that gives a voice to those fans who support their local club despite commitments to work and family.</p>
<p>Just because you do not attend every match, name your child after your favorite player, and clear your schedule for deadline day does not mean you are not a true fan. You are just doing your best to be your best fan.</p>
<p><em>‘The Year of the Robin’ is <a href="https://amzn.to/3aNJDoo" target="_new" rel="noopener">available from Amazon</a> and all fine booksellers.</em></p>


The Year of the Robin book breaks down how one club battled the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering relegation in a turbulent and tumultuous year.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Charlton Athletic"

Charlton Athletic

Rashford on fire as United reaches Carabao Cup semifinal

Book Review

'The Year of the Robin' book review: Charlton Athletic in decline