Grimsby Town’s league position and recently implemented data-driven recruitment plan mean there’s no rush to add new players to an inconsistent, but significantly better, group constructed by manager David Artell.
That said, there is likely to be some movement in the coming weeks, with any new signings likely to be for the future as well as the present, and Tamworth winger Beck-Ray Enoru presents a two-fold opportunity in this regard: he adds variety and guile to the Mariners’ ranks, and he has the potential to make the club a windfall if he continues to develop and shine at the highest level.
Cameroon-born Enoru, who played for seventh-tier Barwell last season, stood out in Tamworth’s tenacious FA Cup third-round victory over Premier League Tottenham, with the 22-year-old posing the Lambs’ main attacking threat while driving them up the pitch from the left wing.
He possesses the skill set that Grimsby lacks. One that would benefit them in a variety of ways, transforming them into a more versatile offensive unit.
Beck-Ray Enoru’s pace would give the Mariners midfield more time on the ball
Artell has clearly made his team more comfortable in possession, whether by improving existing players or bringing in players with a higher level of technical ability.
The aforementioned McJannet and McEachran, as well as the development of youngster Evan Khouri as a significant first-team player, have seen Grimsby grow more comfortable playing through the lines and willing to get on the ball in tighter spaces in their own half when under siege.
Opponents have realised, however, that relentlessly pressing the Mariners high can cause them to become stuck and struggle to get out, resulting in mistakes and goal concessions.
With limited pace on the last defender’s shoulder and few players willing to carry the ball at speed, opposing teams are beginning to pin Grimsby back in this fashion, which Artell will aim to solve.
Signing Enoru or someone of his calibre would undoubtedly help. It would offer defenders something else to think about, possibly causing opponents to drop ten yards deeper, giving McEachran and his teammates more time on the ball to play those incisive passes that lead to pressure, territory, and, finally, goals.
The Tamworth player, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is a diligent worker who is more than happy to perform defensive tasks when needed. However, the Mariners might benefit from the dynamic creative spark he brings at this moment.
If the teenager continues to thrive at the EFL level, the Blundell Park club might benefit financially in the future, as the Tamworth man’s potential is easy to see.
Beck-Ray Enoru would take some time to adjust to full-time football
If Enoru makes the step up to the Football League, he will need time to adjust to the demands of a full-time game and daily training.
Tamworth is one of the few remaining part-time clubs in the National League, with the Cameroonian working in retail when not playing for manager Andy Peaks’ Lambs side.
Many of the fifth-tier club’s players stood out during their match against Ange Postecoglou’s side, and Peaks will be aware that the prominence the tie garnered will almost surely pique the curiosity of some of his key players.
With the Mariners realistically only having a slim chance of making the play-offs and unlikely to be relegated, bringing in Enoru now and gradually introducing him to the rigours of League Two football ahead of next season could be a wise move by Artell and a prudent long-term investment by the Grimsby management.