Paulo Hogerio seems happy with communicating strange Spanish on TW. Why not get him as manager?

You make a good point Andrew although I don't think its as big a hurdle these days... from watching interviews there are many players we've had that have just the very basic understanding of the English language: Fellaini, Yakubu, Andy Johnson...

It's a good point you make Andrew. I would still go with talent and authority first but if the language skills are lacking and/or not improved upon it could mean a big 'x' in the negative column. Maybe that's why BK was so keen to interview everyone before he formulated an opinion.

Having said all that, Dalgliesh won some trophies and he doesn't speak a word of English.

While on the language topic, it reminded me of the way Our Spud used to say 'Eberton'... and he was one of the better ones

It should not be any problem since Pereira speaks fluently English, at least I read it in a news article about him, so no worries there.

Excellent point and one I touched upon myself a while ago. I always wondered how the Man City players understood when Mancini read them the riot act at half time. He barely made sense when he was composed at press conferences.

However, I think an assistant who can pass on the messages (like David Platt did at City) would be of benefit. So if a foreigner gets the job- and the likelihood is they will- then communication is very important.

With that in mind I think Martinez is a shoe in

Here is the link to the article.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/vitor-pereira-perfect-fit-everton-3817219

My 'better half' is French (well, French-Algerian) and hearing her sing "Everton Everton Everton" (out of tune) is a thing of beauty.

When I go to Lyon, I usually take her brother-in-law (who speaks virtually no English) an Everton shirt or t-shirt which he wears proudly around the Croix Rousse district of the city.

In fact if anyone has ever been to Paddy's Corner (traditional French boozer there) and seen a feller wearing an Everton shirt, chances are I bought it.

In return (he's from Normandie) he always has a lovely bottle of Calvados for me, made by his oul feller (and what I can't drink I use to fill up my zippo).

I'll be going at the end of the month and I will have to try to explain to him why he won't be getting this years new shirt.

Something like - 'Parce que notre nouvel insigne ressemble à un morceau de merde'

Long time reader, first time blah blah, but had to reply to Eugene.

My other half hails from Angers, Maine et Loire. I met her in the Cavern 1995. Nantes she followed... now is Blue as well Blue, and indeed to hear her sing 'And if you know' still brings a tear to my eye...

Allez Les Bleus

If the guy is anything like the Portuguese I know his command of English will be - dare I say it - bette rthan the average scouser (and I am born and bred !)

I'm in a place 9kms outside Las Americas Tenerife and I have the local kids all singing Eberton Eberton Eberton...when we win that is....

This is an issue, but a very Anglo-centric view of it. In the modern game, and with the continent's devotion to learning our bastard language, there aren't many managers that speak no English. Fair enough, Mancini's isn't perfect, but he's an Italian who has worked in Italy for a very long time. Certain countries tend to learn English more than others - have you met many Dutch blokes that don't speak it?

The two Portuguese that spring to mind are Mourinho and AVB - both speak quite clear English. How funny/admirable was Jose's quip before moving to Inter: "I'll be fluent in a month."

Was it not also true that Wenger used to speak French in the Arsenal change room?

It may also be a crass generalisation, but Rangnick probably speaks English as well as any of us, and may have some more adjectives than "great".

"the ability to communicate day-in and day-out with his players, in all manner of contexts, in their own language."

Does anybody know a manager who talks English, Belgian, Croatian, French, Slovak, Dutch, Costa Rican, Guinea-Bissaun, Nigerian, Greek, Gaelic, and .......Irish!

Pereira speaks perfect English so I'm not sure what the point of this post was/is.

Also Mancini's 'poor' English didn't stop him winning the Premier League and the FA Cup in his 3 seasons at Man City.

To all intents and purposes, he would need to learn just 3 words: "pass" + "fucking" + "ball". This could be embellished with "don't" + "fucking" + "hoof". Either way, we ought to see an improvement in quality.

Mark (848) How is her 'Kopites are gobshites'?

Mine's comes out back-to-front , upside-down and sideways.

She doesn't even get close which makes me laugh every time - "No LISTEN..goBB-shites, not GOGG-shites.." etc.

Roman (949) - "It may also be a crass generalisation, but Rangnick probably speaks English as well as any of us, and may have some more adjectives than "great""

And even if he doesn't, I'm sure he could vary things by learning 'Er..to be fair'

Then he'd have the choice of..

'We played great' or the much more PL..

"Er..to be fair I though we played great"

Eugene, did Moyes ever put those two together? If he did, it was probably what he would describe as either a moment of madness, or one of his days of extravertedness.

Tony Cheek, if there's a manager that speaks Belgian, Costa Rican, Nigerian and Guinea-Bissaun, I'd love to hear his ideas on mermaids, unicorns and other things that don't really exist.

"Admittedly, I don’t know Pereira’s exact level of English, but the worry is worth some thought."

Except that numerous reports have highlighted that Pereira's English is fluent. As is Rangnick's.

Well done Roman, bet you get my drift though!....and I didnt even mention Scottish!

When Pereira's name was first metioned on TW it said that he didn't speak English.

Not that I think everything on TW is gospel.

Or rright yuse lot, I've gorra cob on bout de first half. You awl arse talk about act soft and I'll buy yer a coal yard, yer brickin it every time some one comes close-elp the boxa toys-der just a ganga gobshites.

Yeah der jock liked yer te lump it up but I want youse to play it on the deck-spread it around like stork on a butty.

No sittin' off just get stuck in.

Que?

It has to be remembered that Moyes always like overseas players who spoke English. And with them his English improved greatly during his tenure.

Not really on the subject, but being abroad you rarely get to hear the players actually speak. I'd like to know the level of English of players such as Fellaini and Mirallas. I assume from his twitter that Johnny has a very good grasp, as most Dutch do, but I remember reading somewhere that Fellaini struggled with the language when he first arrived, and similar things about Kev. I guess the players in the squad you'd expect to have the most difficulty are the Belgians, Mucha, Oviedo and maybe Jela. Or I could be way off.

Mancini and Balotelli had communication breakdown at every training session as well as on match days. And it was all done in fluent Italian. They were always at loggerheads. Without ever going to Wales.

I do think that what you say Andrew about the language barrier has caused problems over the years. Scolari at Chelsea springs to mind. The Swiss fellow at Tottenham had big problems too. And neither lasted 5 minutes.

Zola manages to scramble through a few words of English at Watford, but he's ok at the moment with most of his team coming in from Italy under shady circumstances.

Victor #990. Thank you for the English lesson. I never realized the phrase was "To all intents and purposes".

All these years I've been going around saying "To all intensive purposes". I'm sure I would have got away with screaming it in a football changing room without anyone noticing though. You don't have to be that Pacific with these people. A managers influence on a pitch is greatly over-rated as a whole IMO.

Actually, language is not the only factor in communication, there is a cultural aspect too. You can speak a language perfectly, and yet express yourself badly or understand incorrectly because your culture is different and the inference in the words is not about pure translation.

I live in Colombia, speak Spanish every day, yet when I'm with my lady's family, there are many things "lost in translation" because they are inherently cultural rather than language.... I can understand everything perfectly well from a language point of view, but that doesn't express all of the meaning.

So while Pereira may speak perfect English, can he get to grips with the culture of the region? That of course applies more to his dealings with the UK lads, rather than the foreign players.... but especially in in his relation with others at the club and the supporters.....

Will he understand that when BK puts his arm around his shoulder and with a wry smile and slight inclination of the head, sighs, and says "oh yeah, we've got a little money in the kitty for transfers" he means about 2.50, not 25 million? It's the body language, gestures, rather than the words that count.

It's not impossible, but when trying to form in depth relationships it does make a difference....

Not sure if I've expressed it well, it's difficult to describe....

Mancini also had David Platt who is fluent in Italian

Yes Andrew and he's a Twat, sorry El Twatio

He's got a face I wouldn't get tired of punching after a week. Well I would do if I wasn't 5ft 4" and a shithouse.

Roman,
I spent a lot of time as a kid in coastal Belgium with my grandparents - my mother was born there - in fact Ostend was actually the hub where most of the Brits holidayed to every summer - long before Spain took over as the place to be. Even back then their 2nd language, English, was excellent due to them watching the BBC/ITV all of the time and having to deal with the tourists. But that was on the Flemish side of Belgium. As you moved east towards the "Walloon" (French speaking) area, Chareloi and Brussels you were basically in France - no other language was spoken - certainly not Flemish. I dare say nothing has changed since, hence the Fellaini's and Mirallas's of that world speaking nothing other than French