Tottenham have just become the first Premier League club not to make a summer signing since the transfer window was introduced in 2003, but they have nine World Cup semifinalists and their squad certainly looked competitive at St James' Park.
Five of those players were fit enough to start with Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane giving Spurs a formidable spine to Mauricio Pochettino's side.
It didn't take long for Spurs' star internationals to make an impact as Vertonghen and Alli both scored inside the opening 20 minutes, either side of a header from Joselu.
Lloris also made important interventions as the game wore on, while Mousa Dembele was introduced off the bench.
Tottenham's opponents had a rather busier offseason, bringing in seven players -- including a couple who were on loan at the club last season.
Dele Alli score second goal
However, Rafa Benitez left four of his new faces on his bench and Magpies fans still met outside a Sports Direct store in the city centre before the match to voice their displeasure at the way owner Mike Ashley runs the club, and the lack of investment in the team.
Tottenham have plenty of room for improvement. Some of their defending was particularly rusty and they survived a number of scares, especially when they hit the bar late on -- this was hardly routine. Kane also struggled to make an impact as he continues to wait for his first ever Premier League goal in August.
Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammates Harry Kane and Ben Davies.
However, at full-time Spurs' lack of new recruits seemed less of a problem that it may have seemed to some supporters on Thursday evening -- as a first outing, after difficult preparations, this was a decent start.
Similarly, Newcastle's business has been unable to save them from an opening-weekend defeat.
It may just be that signings aren't everything, but time will tell.
JanVertonghen: "I haven't scored in the @premierleague for a while and I was happy to do it today. We were very professional today, everyone wants to get three points in that first game."
Mauricio: "Under the circumstances it was good to start the season in this way. The players showed great character and commitment, the mentality was amazing."
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