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These have been some decades of dark years in the academy at producing forwards. Peter Crouch was the last good Spurs forward to come out of the academy, only it took him 10 years away to benefit the club. Before that... Mark Falco, who debuted in 1978.
But currently, there are two bright teenagers that look to be future dynamos of the first team: academy product Harry Kane and the recently acquired Souleymane Coulibaly. Both look future stars, but who's the man of the present right now for Spurs? Let's go to the tale of the tape:
Tale of the Tape: Harry Kane vs. Souleymane Coulibaly
| Category | Kane | Coulibaly | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 | 16 | Kane, it’s going to be awkward when Souleymane can’t even get into the bars for Ledley’s benders |
| Height | 6’ 1/2" | 5’ 7.5" | Kane, it’s nice when your strikers can ride the big roller coasters |
| Speed | Fast | Blinding | Coulibaly |
| Shares A Last Name With | Charles Foster Kane | Worst Referee Ever | Kane |
| Club Performance | 5 goals in 18 appearances for Leyton Orient | Uh… played a couple of times for the Siena U-19s | Kane |
| International Performance | He’s English, of course he hasn’t won anything | U-17 World Cup Golden Boot | Coulibaly |
| Best Highlight | Uh… free kick with reserves | Bicycle Kick vs. Brazil | Coulibaly |
| Nickname | Harry "Sugar" Kane (™ me) | New Drogba | Kane, Coulibaly’s is stupid and he’s half Drogba’s size |
| Key Skill | Finisher | Being Skilled | Coulibaly |
Verdict: Going forward, there is no doubt in my mind that Coulibaly is the bigger talent and has more potential. He's only 16, has a fairly complete game, and some elite goal scoring ability. But he's still developing, and getting forced into some important knockout competitions may add some unneeded stress to his adjustment to the English game.
Kane, however, already has experience at the English club level, battling for promotion last year with Orient. He's older, more mature, and has his head in the right place from all reports. He's played with the first team in preseason and fit in to rave reviews. Kane compares favorably to be the club's new Teddy Sherringham, but he could just as easily be another phenom that fails to meet expectations.
When it comes to the guy who can be that X-Factor at striker this year. Kane is the guy. But what do you think?