Language Barrier?

Is there an English language barrier with some members of the current squad?

Three key members of the squad are known to have poor, or no level of English.  Coutinho is never interviewed after games, even after he sets up or scores the winning goal(s). He recently conducted an interview with a British newspaper. But after three years here, Lucas was still required to translate for him.

Moreno was interviewed recently for LFCTV. The interview was conducted in Spanish. After 18 months of playing in England, his English should at least be passable for an interview.

Firmino apparently doesn't even have basic levels of English, and is said to communicate with Klopp in German. How are players supposed to play well if they don't understand the basics of what the coach expects of them?

Now I accept that we have many foreign nationals in our squad and we can't expect new signings to take to the lingo as quickly as Jan Molby, who had adopted the Scouse accent within two years of arriving and still has it. While Aldo and McManaman are two of the very few ex-players who went abroad and had no problems with speaking the local language. Rodgers is a fluent Spanish speaker which I'm sure came in handy with the likes of Moreno and Suarez. Klopp being German, speaks a number of foreign languages, of which English is probably the easiest for him.

Other clubs insist on new foreign signings having good English before they arrive. So is it important that everyone in the team has reasonable levels of English, or can it affect player performance if they don't?

Isn't Klopp good at Spanish?!

This is a really interesting topic and one I've been thinking about a bit lately.  I speak a few languages, some better than others, and it's always frustrated me when I see an interview, pre or post match, with a player or manager whose native language is not English, and the reporters just assume that if they speak some English, it means that they will understand them.  There's the CEFR, which is the "official" way to determine the level someone speaks a language at, going from A1 (total beginner) to C2 (when you speak almost as well as native speakers).  So if you wanted to, say, go work in France, you might need a B2 (high intermediate) or a C1 (low advanced) certificate, and they have tests that correspond with those levels.

Klopp, for example, his English is not that great.  that's no knock on him, he is already improving and he's only been here a short while, but I can't believe some of the obscure expressions they use in his pressers, they speak as fast as they would with a native speaker, they use these very regional colloquialisms etc.  And you can tell that sometimes he doesn't understand the questions.  I would be very interested to know what the club is doing to help him improve his English as well.  For example, he's been here almost two months and he is still saying to "make" a goal, instead of "score" a goal.  "We had a lot of possession but we could not make a goal."  I can't believe no one has said "hey gaffer, the right expression is to "score" a goal."  It would take two seconds.  The good thing is his English is already starting to improve.

Van Gaal for example has another problem with that, whenever he uses the future tense he says "shall" instead of "will."  I noticed that on MOTD, he says stuff like "he is injured, so he shall not play tomorrow."  No one has told him either that no one says "shall" anymore, it's not 1800.  A manager whose English is really good and surprised me is Bilic, he speaks very well, really intricately, probably C1 I'd say.  The best one obviously is Wenger, his English is flawless, but then again he's been here for 20 years.

I think the players can do it if they set their minds to it.  Anyone can learn a language at any age.  Tevez never wanted to work on his English so he never did.  Masch on the other hand speaks almost perfect English.  Even Suarez made an attempt to learn it.  The players can do it if they put some effort into it.  Maybe some of them just don't think it's worth it.

Is the problem with language more prevalent on the pitch than in the dressing room and on the training pitches?

I mean, if you're captain Henderson, with a broad Mackem accent, how do you make yourself understood out there by players with very limited English? 

Ball + Foot =  Goal !


Simples.

How many of Arsenal or City's squad do you see being interviewed after their matches? Language barrier doesn't seem to be affecting their performances. Let's not use this to absolve the players from their piss poor performances over the last eighteen months. I think they just use it as an excuse to swerve press conferences and let's be honest, who can blame them?

Football such a simple game ( Unlike cricket so I am told  ). Outscore the opposition you win the game.

Agreed, and we're probably looking too deeply into it for the sake of topics of conversation, but it is an issue I've felt has been there for a long time.  We seem to have a very quiet team of players, and it does appear that communication between them is a problem.

Agreed, and we're probably looking too deeply into it for the sake of topics of conversation, but it is an issue I've felt has been there for a long time.  We seem to have a very quiet team of players, and it does appear that communication between them is a problem.

We have long had foreign players in the side without the problems we have now. Our two most senior players - Skrtel and Lucas - are both fluent in English but mute on the football field. The issue we have is a lack of leadership amongst the players, not a lack of linguistic skills. That and the fact that some of them simply are not good enough to play for a team with our aspirations.

We had language problems with    Shanks    St John   Yeats  Dalglish  Souness  Hansen etc .
 


As for Uncle Bob ...

AS it says on football manager. "Football is a universal language, I have no concerns".

How are players supposed to play well if they don't understand the basics of what the coach expects of them?

I think all players that come to this club should learn the language but some will obviously find it much easier than others. Look at Torres, it took him up until like March to be able to do an interview for a game and even then his English wasn't great but he got 33 goals that season. You make it sound as though not knowing the language will hamper their game but it's far from the truth because there are enough players/staff at a club to translate for them. Aguero managed to get by and I don't think his English is good, Tevez could barely speak a word of English, Beckham took a while with Spanish and there are so many more across the world in all different leagues but they get on just fine. Ultimately, if you are a good player the language isn't a big deal because we've had proof of it ourselves that some players can just find that click straight away regardless. Torres and Suarez both did for us far, far sooner than they could speak English to even a half decent standard.

Klopp, for example, his English is not that great.  that's no knock on him, he is already improving and he's only been here a short while, but I can't believe some of the obscure expressions they use in his pressers, they speak as fast as they would with a native speaker, they use these very regional colloquialisms etc.

Germans are taught English from a young age in school. Klopp's is actually pretty good but can see he needs to brush up on his English but then again, he's had no need for it working in Germany for as long as he was. Seems to know the swear words really well though.

I bet they would all be able to say whats happened with my wages this week if they were paid short  or the wages were not paid at all.
 Could this language barrier be the problem for so many  fuckups in our defence.

what did the great man say "if in doubt put it in the back of the net" They understand what they want to.

No talk with teammates during a game is mentality problem not language barrier.

I really love someone called the like of Firmino and Lallana a fragile flower but can't remember where I read it  .

If players truly get it hard to understand what the manager talk to them then why the holy F**k JK keep scream all the time every game.   

There should be no reason why the players don't learn to speak English, it's not like they're working 40 hours a week in a factory and can't find the time!

I doubt any of the Champions League winning squad could understand Carragher yet they still managed to do well enough to win it. Then again, his facial expressions and body language do say all that needs to be said.

 

Coutinho's English is still poor. Possible simpleton in school that one, I can tell. I could imagine him having problems with the language barrier.

I reckon you could take a tribe of uncontacted people and teach them the game in no time at all.

Professionals who are paid millions and who've been playing the game for years can have no excuses at all.

I doubt any of the Champions League winning squad could understand Carragher yet they still managed to do well enough to win it. Then again, his facial expressions and body language do say all that needs to be said.

 

That's reminded me of that disaster "Being Liverpool" that was on when BR took over and they actually subtitled Carra.

That's reminded me of that disaster "Being Liverpool" that was on when BR took over and they actually subtitled Carra.

Was funny that like.

I'm a foreigner but in Malta English is the official second language of the country. The government sends his letter both in Maltese and in English.

The players need basic English, they need to know these words: Man on, pass, behind, shot, quick, tackle, push, run, go, take a breather, aggressive, push out, drop deeper, flanks etc

If they do not know these after 6 months they should not play. As a teacher myself (not of English), Liverpool needs an English teacher full time.

In Malta, English isn't often spoken imo. Italian appears to be more popular along with the local language, despite most people having English first names. Local media never speak English unless it's unavoidable, which usually means with foreigners.

I think it's essential that you learn to speak the local language if working there. It's not just needed on the pitch, but more importantly off it also, as there are often no translators available, and unlike with other languages, you'll always find somebody who understands you if you can speak English, even in the remotest outpost.

Back to us and Firmino again. He played at Watford recently, and the game was not going to plan. So when Klopp has to give his half time group chat in English in situations like that, how is Robert supposed to know what's going on, or more importantly, what he needs to do to turn the game around?

With Klopp, we still "make" goals 3 months in. Sometimes.

His English may not be fluent, and we're still scratching our heads over what exactly "the salt in the soup" is, but the declaration that the washed up oap down the road is the "John Lennon" of football was a glaring error. If Roy or Rodgers said it instead, I reckon the pitchforks would be coming out.

He needs to learn more Scouse as well.