Well, that's a nightmare start to the season. Strangely enough, though, I'm going to take a ton of positives from this loss.
First off, Spurs had nothing in that game. NOTHING. Dummett off to injury, Lejune off to injury (more on that tackle in a bit), and Spurs had NOTHING. One of the top teams in the league, facing a promoted side with 1/2 of its defense subbed out within the first quarter of the game, and they had NOTHING.
If not for an infinitesimal offsides call--a correct call--Gayle earns a clear penalty, and Newcastle are ahead. If not for it being one of the top players, Spurs are playing with ten men. Kane should have been sent off ten times out of ten. Scissors tackle from behind. Like the announcers said, if that's Shelvey tackling Kane, he gets sent off without a moment's hesitation. On top of that, Lejune looked like real quality, and that dirty ass tackle takes him out due to injury. So, it could have been Newcastle up 1-0 with Spurs playing with 10 men, and that probably would have been that.
But...BUT...to hearken back to that Shelvey anecdote, the lad absolutely lost his head to get sent off. Let's be honest--he's a real quality player, but he's got two very bad negative qualities--he's dirty, and he can be stupid. I hate the dirty, and loathe the stupid. If you're going to be dirty, at least be smart about it, though. Ugh. Killed the game, and killed us for three more games, because who else do we have at creative midfield? Diame? Merino? Thanks a lot for killing Rafa's attempts to build a quality squad, Jabba the Ashley. Way to live up to your word--NOT.
Yeah, when you go down to 10 men against Spurs, especially with 1/2 of your defense out, you're going to lose. You should lose big, which Newcastle didn't do, and you should fall to pieces, which they didn't do either, which is even more credit to the side Rafa has put together. Fair play to Spurs for the 2-0 win. Aside from what should have been a Kane red (which, because he's a star, I wouldn't expect to happen unless he literally kills someone), absolute fair play to Spurs. They weren't great, but they ground Newcastle down when they had the numerical advantage, and they got the result.
So, Spurs had nothing in the game, at all, and I had every confidence in Newcastle getting a result until the Shelvey red. Rafa had them playing tight and smart tactically, trying to hit on the break. Hell, Newcastle had chances down 1-0, and even down 2-0, so I have no fear when playing lesser opponents, or even playing top teams at times.
A nightmare start. Hopefully the injuries aren't too bad. Hopefully Yedlin is passed fit this week. Hopefully someone steps in for Shelvey for the two league games he's out. Hopefully Shelvey gets a severe talking to and makes it right going forward. And hopefully this wakes Jabba the Ashley up to the realities of what Rafa and this squad need before the window slams shut.
Still and all, I can't help but take some real positives from this game. Newcastle don't play another side from last year's top 6 until November, so Rafa should rake in some points between now and then.
It's okay, they have the replay...on the 16th 
