If SL Benfica 2016/17 season were to start tomorrow, this is how I would set up the list of players that Rui Vitoria should take to get him throughout the year. Although injuries occur throughout the season and there are lengthy competitions (UEFA, League Cup, Portuguese Cup, Liga) each team needs to have a deep squad but sometimes it's better to have a few less core players as opposed to many.
A 23 man squad seems more likely to have each player rotate and be included throughout the schedule as opposed to a 30 or 32 man squad in which some players may never get a single minute playing on the pitch. It is crucial to allow players an opportunity to be a part of the squad as opposed to waiting around for the possibility to maybe play or be subed on.
There are some key players which may play throughout most competitions and others that may only be dedicated for specific competitions. For example; throughout the early stages of the Portuguese Cup or League Cup, Rui Vitoria may decided to call up players who do not start during league matches and in some cases may call up players on the B team or Juniors team.
Clearly from now until the beginning of the september we are expecting departures and arrivals from the Benfica camp. If this list was to be submitted monthly, due to Benfica deep enough squad and when you include B Team squads, Junors squads, and players on loan, Benfica has well over one injunred players on their books. Again if matchday #1 were tomorrow (and not in one month from now) Benfica should included the following in a 23 man roster.
EDERSON
JULIO CESAR
PAULO LOPES
DEFENDORS (CB)
LUISAO
LINDELOF
JARDEL
LISANDRO LOPEZ
DEFENDORS (FULL BACKS)
ANDRE ALMEIDA
NELSON SEMEDO
GRIMALDO
ELISEU
MIDFIELDERS (HOLDING)
SAMARIS
FEJSA
ANDRE HORTA
MIDFIELDERS (ATTACKING)
CERVI
TALLISCA
MIDFIELDERS (WINGS)
SALVIO
PIZZI
CARILLO
GUEDES
FORWARDS (STRIKERS)
JONAS
MITROGLOU
JIMENEZ
