Here's the tip: Newcastle United will win the English Premier League this season.
• Newcastle United v Sydney FC slideshow
Fine; that could be a slight over-reaction based on a pre-season run against a club from a vastly inferior league.
But there was plenty to like about Newcastle's effort last night as it showed off the finest football seen in Dunedin since Seacliff won the first Chatham Cup.
The pace and the skill and the width - all were on display as the English club romped to victory over Sydney FC at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
And, importantly, there were goals.
Four of them, a couple of them absolute crackers, to send the crowd of 9506 home happy.
Also wearing a smile, around those perfect teeth, was Newcastle manager Alan Pardew.
He thought the scoreline flattered his side but he was pleased it found the back of the net four times.
''We lacked offensive options last year, particularly in the second half of the season, so we've improved that and I thought that was encouraging tonight,'' Pardew said.
He said the Newcastle players found the pitch quite firm, which made the ball jump a lot, but otherwise he gushed about the experience.
''It was a good night for us, really good. Great crowd. Dunedin have been fantastic hosts.
"The town should be really proud of the stadium. People have been so friendly.''
Sydney coach Graham Arnold was far from disconsolate at the lopsided scoreline.
He felt his side had gifted Newcastle three easy goals, but had otherwise competed well.
''It was fantastic - a wonderful experience for the boys.
"We're two months out from our first game, so we're nowhere near the finished product. I'm very happy with our performance.''
Both teams had a couple of sniffs at goal in the opening minutes.
Then, in the space of 14 minutes, Newcastle produced a withering attacking period that shattered Sydney's confidence and put the result well beyond doubt.
The opening goal came on 19 minutes, after a goalkeeping howler from Sydney stopper Ivan Necevski.
On the edge of the box, Necevski fluffed a clearance that fell straight at the feet of striker Emmanuel Riviere.
The Frenchman, on debut, calmly fed Siem de Jong, whose strike was clean and straight.
It was a second goal in two games for the Dutchman.
Yoan Gouffran was leading the siege on Sydney's line and he provided the assist for the second goal just seven minutes later.
Finding space on the right, Gouffran slid the ball along the deck to Riviere for his first goal in Newcastle colours.
The Australians still appeared to be running on Sydney time and could not cope with Newcastle's pace on the flanks.
Fullback Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa came forward to join the fun and made it 3-0 with a powerful blast that was deflected into the goal from Sydney captain Sasa Ognenovski.
The rest of the first half unfolded relatively quietly.
Sydney produced a couple of promising attacking forays but these were quickly snuffed out by Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini.
It was possibly no surprise the game rather lost its shape in the second half.
Both sides made several substitutions and there was a clear sense Newcastle was happy to sit back and defend its lead.
A couple of Jack Colback corners came to nothing, and there were several long-range efforts that did not really test the Sydney goal.
It seemed 3-0 would remain the final score until two Newcastle academy graduates combined to make it four.
Adam Campbell found space in the middle and fed Adam Armstrong, who cut inside one defender and evaded a second to finish neatly with his left foot.
The Football United tour now moves to Auckland, for tonight's game between West Ham and the Wellington Phoenix.
All four clubs play in Wellington on Saturday.
Football United
The scores
Newcastle United 4
Siem de Jong 19, Emmanuel Riviere 26, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 33, Adam Armstrong 83
Sydney FC 0
Halftime: Newcastle 3-0.
Three stars
1) Yoan Gouffran. An absolute menace on the right wing. Terrorised Sydney's shell-shocked defence.
2) Siem de Jong. The Dutchman looks a fantastic attacking proposition.
3) Massadio Haidara. Full of pace and enterprise.
