Stephen Elliott: Why Aiden O'Brien's shark celebration told us everything we needed to know about Sunderland and boss Lee Johnson

It was amusing listening to Aiden O’Brien explain his shark fin celebration dance.
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He said it was in relation to the manager wanting the team to go out there and act “like sharks going for their prey”.

Over the course of Lee Johnson’s short tenure, he has come out with quite a few fun and funky analogies. These different metaphorical phrases tell me a lot about his style, and I must admit he is hugely impressing me now.

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He is obviously a good motivator as players are clearly giving their all for him, and I’m not sure you could say that was always the case with previous guys in charge.

Aiden O'Brien in action against Bristol Rovers.Aiden O'Brien in action against Bristol Rovers.
Aiden O'Brien in action against Bristol Rovers.

Players will always have certain ways and means to get themselves up for games anyway, but it definitely seems the case that Johnson has added an extra way of getting every last drop of energy from each player.

His personality seems infectious and it is certainly growing on me. I would guess that majority of supporters are over the moon with how things are going at the moment.

Johnson came in and was immediately honest with us all, making it clear where he felt the team needed to improve. There is no doubt he has improved these aspects of the team.

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He always gives me the impression he is fully in control of what he is doing and has huge belief in himself.

‘Self confidence is the best outfit’ is an analogy that comes to my mind when I think of how Johnson has turned this season around.

Let us hope his wardrobe is full.

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