Source: Daily_Mail
HATCHET MAN: Obi set for new Chelsea contract but he's still nowhere near the real deal
John Mikel Obi hopes to sign a new contract with Chelsea in the summer but has provided precious little evidence he will fulfil his potential. [LNB]The 22-year-old is heading towards the final season of his four-year deal and the club will no doubt give him a new one. [LNB][LNB][LNB] Work to do: Obi (right) has failed to impress on a regular basis [LNB] More from Hatchet Man... HATCHET MAN: Stoke and Wolves can do better than Everton misfit Van der Meyde01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Rio's rock solid but Manchester United need more like him at the back01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Big boys Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool are wrong to believe in Santa01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Forget heroic defending - limited Chelsea were just running scared against Barcelona30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Does Moyes need a washed-up Liverpool legend/Newcastle failure at Goodison Park? He must be g-Owen mad...30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Great for police overtime but a final nail in the SPL's coffin - the Premier League must hold firm in snubbing Rangers and Celtic30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Not even English, too old and discarded by Spain - why Almunia should never be allowed to wear the Three Lions30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: We only really have two games to save ourselves - Toon striker Owen surrenders six points29/04/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE After spending £16 million getting Obi to Stamford Bridge, they don't have a lot of choice, but there must be misgivings now about the lengths they went to and the amount of money they splashed out signing him. [LNB]Obi showed great promise early on at Chelsea but in deputising for Michael Essien this season he has looked ponderous and out of his depth in the biggest games. [LNB]He has given the ball away at critical times in dangerous positions and can no longer be considered a reliable holding midfielder. [LNB]He doesn't score goals either - two in 125 appearances - and there are indications the lifestyle problems Jose Mourinho voiced concern about have returned. He was recently found guilty of drink driving after being stopped at 5am. [LNB]Chelsea have a lot of money invested in Obi and are about to commit themselves to more, but if Guus Hiddink has a fully fit squad he wouldn't make the team. [LNB]He has a lot to do to repay the club's faith in him and needs to step things up soon before the whiff of disappointment in him becomes the stench of a flop. [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]
