http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sunderland-paolo-di-canio-turned-1811932 Head over heels: "Very excited" Adam Johnson says Paolo Di Canio's turned Sunderland upside down 4 Apr 2013 22:30 "It's been a lot different. but so far so good. I think he demands the best and obviously we've got to work so hard. That's probably what we need" All change: Training is "a lot different" now Di Canio's replaced Martin O'Neill Action Images Adam Johnson has given the first insight into Paolo Di Canio's regime at Sunderland admitting "everything's been turned upside down." Di Canio oversees his first game as head coach against Chelsea at the weekend, after a whirlwind week of training. It has been a shock to the system to have Di Canio taking every minute of sessions to get his ideas across in double quick time - with the emphasis on injecting confidence into his relegation-threatened players. Johnson is one of a number of under-performing stars who need to transform their game to revive the Black Cats and haul them to safety. The former England winger said of the Italian's methods: "It's been a lot different. He's come in and everything has just been turned upside down so quickly, so everyone is still getting used to it. But so far so good, really. "I think he's probably going to get the best out of the lads and I think he demands the best and obviously we've got to work so hard. That's probably what we need. "Everybody is very excited. "He's full of enthusiasm and energy. He just demands the best from his players. I think if you do well for him I think he's going to be a great manager to work for. "Any time a new manager comes in, people are a little bit stand-off and you don't know how to react. "Everything happens so quickly. One day you turn up and a new manager turns up. It's difficult, but I'm sure over the course of time everything will fit into." Di Canio has also taken sessions aimed at creating chances for striker Danny Graham, who has yet to net since arriving from Swansea in January but must deliver now leading scorer Steven Fletcher is out for the rest of the season. Johnson added: "I think he's a confident manager. He wants his players to feel like the best players in the world. "That's a good thing. When players are full of confidence they're going to play well. Hopefully we can take that into Sunday. "It's a tough game and a big game, but hopefully we can go there and play. Hopefully, the pressure isn't on us to go there and win. "It's difficult coming in and just having a week to the game. The new gaffer has been trying to get his points across and there's a lot to take in all at once. "Come Sunday, I think we'll know what he wants from us. "Chelsea are a top team and we're just in transition now but I think the confidence the manager is going to put into us and that he has is hopefully going to take us to the next level and we'll be able to go to Chelsea and go with a winning mentality. "I think there's always a reaction for players when a new manager comes in to prove to the new gaffer that they deserve a place. "That'll be no different. We're still the same players who were here before with the old gaffer, so we've got to try and do something different. "Hopefully, the new manager will do that for us." Seems to be making an impact on the mentality of our players which is exactly what we need
didnt we have all this talk from johnson leading up to the united game , well if he turns his game around for pdc, i think mo should give him a visit to kick him up the arse.
I want to see the talking done on the pitch, but it does sound like he has the dressing room which is a good thing..
he has the chance now to pull his finger out and display his ability, and his fight to stay up, i wonder how much of the previous mans tactics and talks had to do with it. i would still prefer jm for his work rate
With RAW on this one produce on the pitch if you don't you won't be long for SAFC. Not sure Sunday will determine whether it was the players or MONs tactics, neither will the mags game if I'm honest. The first home game will give us a better idea though.
If Johnson suddenly becomes the player we all hoped under PDC, then maybe serious questions shouldbe raised over Martins reign and that goes for 3 or 4 others btw.
"We're in transition right now". The sentence every player and manager trots out when the season isn't going as well as hoped...
trouble is the price we paid as well, if he does not show at all, gets dropped to the bench, (which i think should have happened before)HE still gets his wages paid , it is a shame we all expected a lot more than what he has given , the trouble has been for him is to play in a team with such negative tactic , i dont expect to much from any body to be honest, most players cannot up there game skill wise, but i think in terms of effort and tean ethos can go a long way
