We have argued on this website that Newcastle should be organizing pre-season games against better clubs than Bradford City, and regard ourselves as a "big club" like the top six. But perhaps suffering a big defeat (as the Mackems did yesterday) could upset the apple-cart.
Is it better to hammer Bradford, than take a hammering from Europe's best (not that I'm saying for one second that Celtic are anything special)?
Callum McGregor was the star man in a much-changed Celtic side who trounced Sunderland 5-0 in their Dafabet Cup clash at the Stadium of Light.
The midfielder returned to the Hoops line-up and notched twice in the opening 15 minutes before stand-in Hoops keeper Dorus de Vries saved a penalty kick from James Vaughan and then the rebound.
In the 39th minute Parkhead winger Jonny Hayes made it 3-0 when Sunderland keeper Jason Steele failed to hold an Olivier Ntcham shot.
McGregor scored his hat-trick from the spot in the 58th minute after Anthony Ralston had been fouled by former Celt Aiden McGeady.
The Scottish champions were in fine form and in the 70th minute midfielder Stuart Armstrong made it 5-0 when he took a Nir Bitton pass and fired in from the edge of the box.
The result boosts Celtic's confidence ahead of Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg in Norway. The sides drew 0-0 in the first leg.
It was also a bad day for Newcastle, who suffered their first defeat of pre-season, losing 2-1 in Germany to Mainz.
Jesus Gamez had cancelled out Levin Oztunali's opener but former Middlesbrough striker Viktor Fischer bagged a winner for the hosts five minutes from time.