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If you compared Tottenham Hotspur during their season opener this year against Newcastle United and last year against Manchester United, you'd find two teams that are about as similar as oil and water.

Last year, Tottenham, under manager Harry Redknapp, allowed 28 shots by the Red Devils, conceded three second-half goals, and for all intents and purposes, never earned the respect of Manchester United's back line through any sort of concerted attack.

Against Newcastle United? It couldn't have been a more different story.

For the third consecutive season, they started away from White Hart Lane, but unlike last year, they looked just as comfortable in Newcastle as they would have in North London.

Spurs lost 2-1, thanks to clumsy challenges from Aaron Lennon and Rafael van der Vaart that allowed Newcastle a penalty kick in the 80th minute, but up until then, Tottenham looked the better side.

There's a lot—and I mean a lot—to learn about Tottenham from their 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, but I give you the six biggest takeaways concerning Spurs' beginning to their 2012-13 season.