Everton will return from their US tour with a lot to mull over before the beginning of the season.
Defeats over the summer aren't meant to be gone over with a fine-tooth comb for the most part, but it's hard to look beyond the dismal display the Blues put in against Minnesota United on Wednesday night, shortly before the players boarded their flight back to Merseyside. At the end of what had been an enlightening, positive and upbeat trip to North America in general, the performance left a real sour taste.
Frank Lampard's comments afterwards proved just how unhappy he was, in an interview which almost mirrored his disappointment following an FA Cup exit to Crystal Palace by the same 4-0 scoreline earlier this year. Just as pre-season training might have felt like taking his side one step forward, displays like that feel like they've gone a few paces backward.
