It's all about fitness anyway - Newcastle United thoroughly beaten by Scottish champions at Celtic Park
Newcastle United brought 10,000 Geordies with them as they travelled to Scotland to take on Scottish Premier League champions Celtic at Celtic Park.
Eddie Howe fielded almost entirely different XIs in each half, with only Will Osula and Lewis Miley surviving the half-time cull before being replaced midway through the second half.
The hosts went in at half time two goals to the good, and in truth, it was a flattering scoreline for the Scottish side as Newcastle had dominated possession, but despite Will Osula and Bruno Guimaraes' best efforts, they couldn't find a breakthrough.
Joe Willock gifted Celtic the lead by conceding a penalty, which was converted by Arne Engels. This came just moments after Willock had hurt himself making another needless foul. He's not doing himself any favours.
£40 million for James Trafford was looking pretty cheap at half time
Speaking of not doing himself any favours, Nick Pope will be really hoping the James Trafford deal collapses because it'll be his only chance of keeping his place if this game is anything to go by. Nick Pope was entirely at fault for Celtic's second goal, rushing off his line and seemingly forgetting that balls bounce. The ball looped over his head, and Johnny Kenny pounced on the loose ball and rolled it home.
Eddie Howe made nine changes at the break, and Newcastle fans got their first look at Anthony Elanga, who started the half brightly and then disappeared into the disaster that was the second half.
Yang Hyun-jun and Liam Scales put the game to bed in the second half, and it was no less than Celtic deserved, as disjointed doesn't even come close to describing the Magpies in the second half.
Let's not gan too radge just yet
It was a very bruising defeat, but there are many things to bear in mind before we start to panic. We were without Alexander Isak, Joelinton, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall. Neither side in either half was anything close to a regular starting XI. And finally, Celtic are just two weeks away from starting their season; they are much further on in their pre-season prep than we are.
That being said, the game absolutely highlighted the need for a new goalkeeper and a new centre-forward. Osula was good, don't get me wrong, but he's still lacking that little bit of something.
Overall, it was a terrible day at the office, with only Bruno Guimaraes looking anything like his regular self. We have to feel a bit bad for Sean Neave, who had a header stopped on the line in the dying moments, which would have been a huge moment for him.
It'll be interesting to see if and how Eddie Howe puts a positive spin on this. It's just the small matter of Arsenal up next in Singapore next week. We wonder if we'll have any new players in by then?
