Everton lost just two of their last 24 games to overcome a poor start to the season and finish a creditable eighth in the Barclays Premier League.

With just three more points the Toffees would have overhauled their arch-rivals Liverpool and claimed a place in Europe.

That is a scenario that seemed most unlikely in November as Moyes' men sat 16th with just 15 points from their opening 14 games.

The form they produced to recover would have done the Champions League-challenging teams proud and, indeed, their stunning back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Manchester United in February suggested they should have been one of them themselves.

To ensure they had a chance of becoming a top-four side this season, Moyes knew he needed to retain the services of his key players first and foremost.

"I don't think it will be a busy one," Moyes said of his summer.

"The biggest thing is we keep the players we have got at the club.

"It is for the board and chief executive to re-sign the players we have got and if they do I will be happy.

"Hopefully we will add one or two additions, then I'll be looking forward to next season."

On this front, the Scot has had mixed success.

Rising star Jack Rodwell was one of the first names Moyes wanted to re-sign and there was much relief at Goodison Park when the highly-rated 19-year-old penned a new five-year contract.

Midfield inspiration Tim Cahill and reliable defender Leighton Baines also agreed new long-term deals, as did the promising Seamus Coleman.

That good news, however, was offset by continuing uncertainty over Steven Pienaar's future and the unfortunate loss of Dan Gosling.

Securing Pienaar on a new deal was considered a matter of urgency after an outstanding season that brought the South African to the attention of other clubs.

The matter remains unresolved, however, and with just a year remaining on his contract there is now a danger he could leave for free next summer.

Gosling, another of the club's top youngsters, quit for Newcastle after apparently exploiting an administrative oversight to claim a free transfer at the end of his contract.

As Gosling was under 24, Everton should have been entitled to a fee but their failure to put an offer in writing to the 20-year-old before a mid-May deadline cost them.

On top of that, rumours continue to surround the futures of other important players such as Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka.

In all cases, Moyes will be anxious to avoid a repeat of the saga which saw Joleon Lescott eventually leave for Manchester City at the start of last season.

The wrangling over the England defender's eventual £22million sale dragged on for several weeks and undoubtedly played a part in Everton's poor start.

Should Moyes manage to maintain good spirits at Goodison - and over eight years in charge he has proved his ability to do that - the Toffees can hope to compete at the top end.

The other major factor that counted against them last season was injuries, with long lay-offs for the likes of Arteta, Jagielka, Pienaar, Leon Osman and Phil Neville early on proving damaging.

Moyes has recognised the need to add depth to his squad and has brought in Jermaine Beckford on a free transfer from Leeds and unheralded youngsters Magaye Gueye and Joao Silva.

Striker Beckford, 26, steps up two divisions after making a big impact since being spotted playing non-league football by Leeds four years ago.

After scoring 31 goals in the Yorkshire side's promotion-winning campaign last season, he deserves his chance.

The arrival of two more forwards in France Under-21 international Gueye and Portuguese prospect Silva also fulfils Moyes' pledge to add more firepower.

Yet with all three players unproven at the top level, none is likely to be setting the pulses of fans racing yet.

That leaves a lot depending on whether the team can maintain the momentum the generated in the latter half of 2009-10.

If they can do that, Everton should certainly be challenging for a place in Europe.