Hull City football writer Philip Buckingham explains why Ahmed Elmohamady is enjoying the switch back to a 3-5-2 formation
IF THERE is a one single player thrilled to see the return of a 3-5-2 system at Hull City, it is Ahmed Elmohamady.
There are plenty of others who share a fondness for it – most
notably the recalled David Meyler and Alex Bruce – but Elmohamady's effectiveness in the Premier League has almost come to depend on it.
The Egyptian has spent much of the season feeling betwixt and between on Hull City's right.
As a full-back his attacking
potency is dramatically reduced and his defensive frailties exposed, while on the occasions Elmohamady has been pushed further
forward to play as a winger he has lacked the trickery and guile to outfox Premier League defenders.
Somewhere in between, however, continues to suit him just fine.
Elmohamady deservedly won the Tigers' Player of the Year award last season for his outstanding form as a right wing-back in the Championship.
The visit of Stoke was the fourth consecutive game back in the old routine and now the Premier League would be well advised to keep a keen eye on Elmohamady's adventures. The Egyptian is getting his groove back.
On another day Elmohamady would have scored at least one goal and set up another.
Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic was his nemesis on three occasions.
A lovely dipping volley from 20 yards out appeared destined for the top corner early on until the
Bosnian tipped over, before a scrambling save kept out his back-post header in the second half.
In between there was a fine chance created for Yannick Sagbo. Getting the better of full-back Marc
Muniesa on the edge of the penalty area out wide, he had the vision to pick out his team-mate with a clever pass. Only Begovic's save denied City a goal when in control.
The 3-5-2 shape unquestionably plays to Elmohamady's strengths.
With James Chester there to cover his advances with a slide out of a back three, there is much less call for defensive duties than at full-back. Given his faults for goals at Manchester City, Newcastle and Southampton, that is no bad thing.
Although he faded late on,
perhaps a reflection of City's heavy recent workload, Elmohamady moved closer still to the form
supporters had come to expect from him last season. Encouraging
displays against Liverpool and Swansea this month also suggest his improvements are no fluke.
Second-season syndrome has hit Elmohamady but he remains one of the prominent figures in Steve Bruce's plans.
No other City player has started all 16 Premier League games this season and back in a more natural fit of right wing-back, the Egypt international is in the starting line-up to stay.
