The World Cup break comes at a good time for Everton.
Sometimes, after a bad run of results, another game emerging quickly on the horizon can be a good thing. It can present a new challenge to focus on, a cause to rally around and an opportunity to shift the narrative. But for Everton, at this moment in time, a break is needed.
Starting with the defeat to Leicester City, this week has been a catastrophe. First Tuesday, then Saturday - each provided a chance to inject some positivity into the next six weeks after disappointing results. Instead they found only more frustration and more injuries. Struggling to halt the momentum themselves, at least it has now been ended for them.
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The break in the domestic calendar removes Frank Lampard, his backroom team and the players from the spotlight and offers a chance to properly analyse the first 15 games of the season - what went wrong, what went right, what needs to be done to improve. It offers a window to sensibly plot for January.
Unlike in the summer, when the relegation threat delayed the planning process, everyone should go into this period aware of what Everton's financial position is. There can be no doubt about which area of the pitch is the priority and the past week has only served to emphasise the weakness of Everton's attack. That needs addressing. Lampard's rhetoric has been clear in recent weeks and ahead of the Bournemouth league game he appeared confident those above him were on the same page, and aware that one attacking signing might not be enough.
The next six weeks also provide an opportunity for the squad to deal with the mounting injury problems that have plagued Everton once again. Anthony Gordon's broken hand, the knock that kept James Garner out on Saturday, Mason Holgate's knee issue and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's shoulder, hamstring and knee problems could all be overcome ready for Wolverhampton Wanderers' visit to Goodison Park on Boxing Day. Ben Godfrey returned to action on Sunday for Everton Under-21s against Southampton, a major milestone in his recovery. The club will also hope the injury that forced Vitalii Mykolenko off on Saturday is not serious.
This is also a time for cool heads. Everton must have a plan to address the lack of goals and creativity, both in the transfer market and tactically. How to use Neal Maupay and Amadou Onana most effectively are two key questions that need answers.
Lampard questioned the desire and intensity of the players after the Bournemouth league defeat and that is a problem that needs fixing immediately. This is a time for perspective too. This season was always likely to be challenging and the squad, particularly with the club's proximity to financial limits, was always going to take several windows to overhaul.
Last weekend, ahead of the game with Leicester City, Everton knew a win would launch them into the top half. They may now be just a point above the relegation zone but that is an important reminder of how fickle the league table currently is. The club cannot ignore the threat of a relegation battle after the warning of last year but if key decisions are made carefully, this season still has the potential to be a platform for clear progress.
The next six weeks offers an opportunity for honest reflection and analysis away from the pressure of the fixture list and at a point when the club really needs it. It means that where Everton go from here is in the club's own hands. The break comes at a good time.
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