#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on World Cup break #AFCB

INTERIM boss Gary O’Neil would rather the “season just continued as normal” as the Premier League prepares to pause following this weekend’s fixtures for the World Cup. Footballing tradition has been broken with the biggest stage being hosted in winter for the first time, with all 21 previous iterations of the tournament being staged during the summer months. Whilst more serious concerns have been raised regarding host nation Qatar’s record over human rights and treatment of migrant workers, the rearranged schedule has also been a bone of contention for clubs around the world, with the World Cup final taking place two days before Cherries return to action in the League Cup. For Cherries, the break might offer the perfect chance to hire a permanent manger, with O’Neil still operating on the caretaker basis he took on at the end of August, following Scott Parker’s dismissal. Asked for his thoughts on the break, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I'd rather the season just continued as normal.  “But yeah, I mean, there are benefits and negatives to the break. “You will be able to do some good work with the group once you manage to get them back. “We'll be able to get some people back from injury. You will be able to put a real good plan together for the back half of the season.” Before the league schedule is interrupted, Cherries face Everton for the second time in five days, after the Dorset outfit knocked their Merseyside opponents in the League Cup on Tuesday. Victory in the cup marked Cherries’ first win since a 2-1 defeat of Leicester at the start of October, with O’Neil keen to add more points to the league table. “I think the last game before you have a break, you always want it to end on a positive,” he restarted. “So for the boys, before they go away and have a break, for myself, and most importantly for the position it puts the club in, three more points would be huge for us.” Only one point and one place separates 16th placed Everton from Cherries in the final safe spot of 17th. Asked if he viewed the game as a so-called six-pointer, O’Neil detailed: “No, I don't think so. “I can see six pointers sometimes towards the end of seasons. “I don't see them this early, really. I think there's so much that can still go on. “Obviously a winter break, a transfer window so there's so much that can change between now and the end of the season. “It's just a game that we're desperate to go and get more points from.”