Good players will progress up the ladder. They only stop once they either reach their level or reach the top. For years we were the top for part time so a stable team from year to year was possible. Now we are the bottom of the full time ladder so most players we keep for years will be those not capable of moving up (of course the will be a couple of exceptions but not a team full and not for years - see colclough, Toby etc) loans is part of the strategy and will be for some time. We need to get used to it. Although hopefully not quite as many as this year if we get the permanent recruitment right
The final seven words of your totally accurate post are key. We need to have already identified targets for next season, and they need to be totally realistic and affordable.
Trialists have proved to be an unreliable source of signings in the past.