This year's pre-season was always going to be a challenge for all teams in the Premier League to try to adapt to, and things are no different for Everton.
The Covid-19 pandemic gripped the country at a crucial period of the 2019/20 season, just when things were heading towards a climax.
A break of over three months wasn't ideal, neither was playing a large amount of matches in quick succession in front of no supporters inside grand arenas.
The following summer, in that sense, was always going to provide new obstacles for sides to try and navigate.
A much shorter break between campaigns, with next season already less than two weeks away from getting underway at the time of writing, means much less time for managers to properly prepare their squads.
On the flip side, a number of players may carry a little more residual fitness into the following season, but the need for fixtures in the build-up to the first real match of the term is crucial.
For Everton that is certainly the case. Following the disappointing end to last term, especially on the final day of the season, Carlo Ancelotti will have had a lot to teach his squad.
Transfers are vital, and the club closing in on a deal to bring Allan to Merseyside will be very useful, but a lot of work is needed with the current squad to get them ready for the upcoming term.
To do that, the club arranged pre-season fixtures against Blackpool, Blackburn and Preston. Three matches to get minutes into the legs again ahead of the season opener against Spurs.
The first match didn't exactly go to plan, being 3-0 down so early on before eventually clawing it back to 3-3. But it was an important fitness exercise at the very least for those on the pitch.
However the likes of Richarlison, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph, Yerry Mina and Bernard were absent. Those are all players you'd expect to be very involved in the first team picture by the time the Spurs game comes around.
The thinking was then that at least some of those players would be able to get their first taste of pre-season football against Blackburn on Tuesday.
However, Sunday's announcement that the game in Lancashire had been called off raised a few questions among supporters.
How prepared will Everton be by the time they travel to north London to kick off the 2020/21 season against Spurs on September 12?
Some players might only have had 90 minutes of football since the 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth to close out the previous season before they are asked to perform once again against Jose Mourinho's side.
Spurs have already played three pre-season fixtures compared to just one for the Blues. They have scored an impressive eight goals in those games, winning all of them.
Ahead of the beginning of the campaign they have another match against recently-relegated Watford before they welcome Ancelotti's men to north London.
With double the amount of matches under their belt, you could reasonably expect Everton's opponents to be fitter and sharper by the time next season does get underway.
However, there is perhaps something else to note.
Following the return to action in June, the Blues welcomed Liverpool to Goodison Park for the Merseyside derby.
While both sides might have been similarly affected by the time away from the pitch, they coped very well with what is usually a crippling high press from Jurgen Klopp's side.
Arguably on that day, Everton should have come away with all three points. Next time out, away to Norwich, they did secure a win thanks to a header from Michael Keane.
Ancelotti clearly worked incredibly hard on the training pitch with his players and it paid off in those early stages post-lockdown.
Now, as things transpired and the matches started to pick up pace, Everton did drop off somewhat - that much must be said.
But, this time around, the matches won't be quite as thick-and-fast as they were across June and July. The manager's training ground work could be a factor for a little longer at least.
Regardless, there is a certain amount of concern regarding a perceived lack of preparation for the 2020/21 term - only made worse by the cancellation of the Blackburn match.
We won't know for sure how the Blues have been affected until we're a few matches into the season, of course.
But, let's be honest, it's not exactly ideal.
What have you made of Everton's pre-season preparations? Let us know in the comments below.
