I always have a gk on the bench, tbh it's stupid not to especially if your goalkeeper gets sent off or injured. It's not really wasting a player either as your have 6 other spaces.
Always, ever since I had a game once, keeper was injured after about 10 minutes so had to put a fullback in goal. I lost 7-0 against a relegation threatened Southampton.
Why wouldn't you have a GK on the bench? In most leagues you have 7 subs to chose from and can make 3, so 6 players should give you more than enough tactical flexibility.
Even if you need to sub your goalkeeper just once in a season, a potential 3 points lost can be the difference between 2nd and 1st, promotion and the play-offs, relegation and survival etc. I've never felt like I needed another on the bench anyway.
two defenders, two midfielders and two attackers as well with the aim of being able to cover for every position in case of injury regardless of whoever gets injured
Why wouldn't you have a gk on the bench? I'd be tremendously ****** if Mr. Jesus (Benfica's manager) decided not to bring a gk sub to any game at all...
I never put a keeper on the bench. I feel like like I could always use that extra choice of a sub, not to mention I don't like keeping my players off the bench (they seem to get ******). I always have at least 18 guys that deserve to be part of the match squad. I've had a keeper get injured maybe only once or twice ever in playing FM.
I have a goalkeeper on the bench because the last time I didn't my goalkeeper got injured and I had to play Gareth Barry in goal. Luckily, he was good in goal.