When the lights dim and the travelling party begin to drift to sleep on Everton's flight home, Frank Lampard will have a lot on his mind.
The trip to the US was never going to be about results. The priority for the games with Arsenal and Minnesota United was always fitness, not form.
There have been positives to draw from the 180 minutes of action played across Baltimore and St Paul too. James Tarkowski has clearly strengthened the defence. The youngsters, including Stanley Mills, Reece Welch and Lewis Warrington, have slotted into the first team with confidence and composure.
READ MORE: Everton player 'ratings' against Minnesota United as few positives found in dismal defeat
AS IT HAPPENED: Minnesota United vs Everton LIVE - Blues hammered 4-0, score, goals and commentary stream
Anthony Gordon, boosted by the receipt of the number 10 shirt, was a menace against the Loons too, twice winning dangerous free-kicks from Jacori Hayes and unfortunate not to get an assist from a low cross that somehow evaded his teammates with the scores level.
But there are concerns. There are weaknesses. Most are familiar. Lampard knows this. As he flies home with the squad his thoughts will be on how to find solutions in the short time between now and August 6, when Everton's Premier League campaign begins against Chelsea.
Not all answers will lie in the transfer window. But work, already said to be ongoing at pace with director of football Kevin Thelwell having stayed in the UK to oversee activity, will no doubt intensify.
This was the biggest game ever hosted at the Allianz Field, a stunning, sci-fi-like bowl that holds nearly 20,000 fans. It was a highlight in Minnesota United's history and it showed in a carnival atmosphere that included a drum section within the safe standing section at the St Anthony Avenue end. It was from there that black smoke billowed after each of the hosts' four goals - sparking not just cheers but the eerie call of the loon - the club's mascot - played around the stadium.
It could have been different for the Blues. They started well, full of attacking intent and looking dangerous. The away side should have taken the lead when Abdoulaye Doucoure fed Gordon down the right. His low cross somehow beat both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi.
EXCLUSIVE: Frank Lampard names two things he wants from Everton this season and makes transfers admission
EXCLUSIVE: Inside Everton pre-season training as Frank Lampard demands and star performer revealed
While fitness is being worked on among Everton's players this Minnesota United side has played more than 20 times in an MLS campaign that has Blues legend Adrian Heath's men on course for the end of season play-offs. That showed, as did the players' desire to take advantage of what Heath described before the game as a massive opportunity to showcase their own ability.
They took the lead in the 18th minute when Emanuel Reynoso, widely acknowledged as their best player, sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way from the spot after handball was given against Tom Davies when a cross was fired at him from close range.
Moments earlier Everton had been warned of the danger posed by the hosts when Reynoso broke clear of Michael Keane only to be muscled off the ball by Tarkowski. If there was misfortune about the penalty, the bad luck continued. Tarkowski played a delightful ball over the top that just bounced clear of Gordon, who would have been through on goal.
Then down the other end Everton were exposed when Franco Fragapane fed Kemar Lawrence down the left. His cross was prodded in by Keane.
Everton, experimenting with four at the back - a system Lampard hopes to be able to deploy this season - were repeatedly exposed down the flanks. The third goal came from the left. Bongokuhle Hlongwane had time to pick his spot but still picked out a sliding Vitalii Mykolenko. His block diverted it goalwards and Pickford produced a stunning one handed save only to see Luis Amarilla scramble the ball in.
Lampard made nine changes at half-time but another familiar weakness quickly reared its head as Nabilai Kibunguchy won a header from a corner - only to see it rattle against the crossbar. It was a lucky escape for Everton and they improved after that.
Dele Alli rolled a ball across the face of goal only for no-one to get on the end of it before Gordon beat his man down the right only for a promising cross to be blocked. Gordon then almost scored but for a late block by a sprawling defender with keeper Dayne St Clair seemingly beaten.
Alli had the best opportunity for the Blues but somehow missed from yards out after Mason Holgate fired a ball across the face of goal. Everton's night then worsened when the defence was once again exposed out wide. This time Alan Benitez was free down Everton's left and picked out Abu Danladi.
In the final minutes both Niels Nkounkou and Ben Godfrey were booked as Everton's frustration seeped through.
Last season the smell of pyrotechnics and sight of billowing, coloured smoke fuelled their survival bid. Tonight, it ended a pre-season tour in which positives have emerged, but only with old problems alongside them. As the sound of Oasis' Wonderwall - sung after Loons' victories - rung around the Allianz Field, Everton's players left the pitch with a plane back to Merseyside awaiting them.
For Lampard and his staff, planning for the beginning of the end of pre-season begins on the long flight back.
READ NEXT:
