Going to the library, opening a book, reading said book and is taking notes on what you've just read is fine but photocopying the pages to take home and claim as your own is too far.
Now imagine that the aforementioned book was written by Roman Abramovich on how to win the Premier League and Newcastle United's new owners were library culprits.
The Magpies' revamped strategy following their takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium can be likened to my awful analogy.
Eddie Howe's rumoured activity in the transfer market is becoming too close for comfort and is showing too many similar signs to how Abramovich shifted Chelsea into gear nearly 19 years ago.
In October, Newcastle's co-owner Amanda Staveley began copying the Russian billionaire's step-by-step guide by sacking Steve Bruce in a similar fashion to which Chelsea did so with Claudio Ranieri.
The Italian boss was given a roll of the dice before he was eventually dismissed from Stamford Bridge in May 2004 after a successive trophy-less season.
Abramovich made the ruthless decision to sack the 'nice guy' manager and welcome Jose Mourinho to Cobham in a bid to lift some silverware.
Newcastle followed suit and sacked their own 'nice guy' manager - a pattern is emerging, right? Wait until you read this.
Newcastle since went on to sign an English right-back, Kieran Trippier, just like the west Londoners when Jose Mourinho signed Glen Johnson arrived from West Ham.
Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern; Howe's side is preparing a move for Bayer Leverkusen's £75m-rated winger Moussa Diaby, according to the Daily Mail.
And, you guessed, strangely enough, one of Chelsea's next signings from Abramovich's maiden window was also a winger - Damien Duff.
With a pattern emerging, Tuchel must be wary of Newcastle's ambitions - what's next? Is Howe going to sign a young English left-back next, too? A Manchester United flop? A wonderkid from West Ham?
Who knows for now, but it might be in Chelsea's best interest to hijack this Diaby deal and stop Newcastle from copying Abramovich's template to success.
We know Chelsea aren't currently in a place to buy players as of this moment, but we can hope the day does come soon, and when it does, we must stop Newcastle copying us right to the very top.
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