As January rumors start spreading, linking Liverpool to players such as Eduardo Vargas, Gaston Ramirez and Xherdan Shaqiri, one name looms large: Fernando Torres.

Clearly on the outs at Stamford Bridge, Fernando Torres finds himself at the end of the striker stick in London, out of favor with Villas-Boas. Torres who left Liverpool 11 months ago is looking for a new club, in January or in the Summer. Will Liverpool come calling? Will Liverpool take him back? Will Liverpool fans welcome the return of El Nino?

My answer to all questions would be a definitive “No”. Not because he decided to move on to Chelsea when he did, that could be forgiven very quickly if he moved back, but because of his hurtful words after the transfer. Saying he never kissed the badge, or that he was finally “joining a big club” are words that will never be repaired or forgiven by a good portion of Liverpool supporters, me included.

There are, however, supporters who would welcome Torres back tomorrow. Saying he’s the perfect partner for Luis Suarez and would bring the clinical finishing we’ve dearly lacked this season. Tough to argue with that if you believe Torres is not past his best. The paper-partnership between the two of them is almost dream-like.

I won’t forget or forgive the hurtful words from Fernando Torres, Chelsea’s number 9. I’ll take my 20m and look elsewhere for a strike partner for Suarez.

Liverpool FC are clearly looking to strengthen the squad in the summer transfer window. Such names as Kun Aguero, Eden Hazard and Gary Cahill are just a few of the names being linked with the most historic club in England. Many sites and sources are taking guesses at how much money the new owners will be willing to spend. I won’t do that, NESV will spend the money that Comolli and Dalglish feel is needed to do enough to the squad. No set figure needed.

Realistically, this would be my list of players coming into the team this summer:

Ashley Young – I think he is the first name on the Comolli’s list. He’s a proven Premier League player, which is the #1 priority before dipping into Europe for talent. Young will add pace and width, which LFC is desperate for.

Gary Cahill – Another British player our front office is keyed in on. Cahill will be touted the replacement for Carragher when he decides to step down. Cahill has been incredibly consistent for Bolton this season. He’ll be a key fixture in the LFC defense for years to come if he arrives.

Leighton Baines – The last of the British talent I’d love to land. It’ll be tough considering he is playing for the ugly blue club down the road. He’s made it known he’s a Liverpool fan though and if we can turn his head, he can help push a move through. We would have to pay a bit more for it to be accepted. I might be living a pipe dream with this one, though. Jose Enrique is my fall-back option.

Gervinho – The Ivorian has been overshadowed by the super-talent Eden Hazard. Gervinho has been some player for Lille since he arrived. He’s scored 25 goals in 54 appearances, and would fit into the mold of targets for LFC. He’s just 24 years old, plenty of pace and versatility. He can play in a 4-3-3, or as a winger in any other formation.

James McCarthy – The Wigan center-midfielder almost signed for LFC in 2006 under Rafael Benitez. Dalglish looks to renew the interest as McCarthy has been a smashing hit for the bottom table Wigan Athletic club. He’ll be touted as Steven Gerrard’s replacement.

That’s 5 players arriving. I think we’re aiming for 6, as we need another striker possibly.

Steve Clarke does not foresee a squad overhaul at Liverpool this summer.

Out-of-contract defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos is one of several first team personnel expected to make way at Anfield with Kenny Dalglish expected to bolster his squad in the close season.

But Clarke, who has been credited with Liverpool’s revival as much as his compatriot, believes that such widespread changes are not necessary given the quality of the current crop in addition to upcoming youngsters such as John Flanagan and Jack Robinson.

He said: “We have a decent squad here, a lot of good players who have shown that for us.

“If we can find two or three players that can add to the squad then that is what we should do.

“If we can’t find the right players to improve us at the right time then I think we have enough to keep us moving forward.

“We’ve also got the young players coming through – that has been a big plus for everyone at the club this season.

“If we can continue with the nucleus of the established players we have and keep adding one or two kids and then maybe improve one or two in the summer.”

www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/1213369-liverpool-fc-overhaul-not-necessary,-insists-steve-clarke.html

Two weeks from Friday the Florida Gators will tip off the start of their College Basketball season against UNC-Wilmington at the O-Dome on the campus of the University of Florida.

Billy Donovan returns all 5 of his starts from a year ago along with one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. Kenny Boynton and Chandler Parsons were named to the second team preseason All-SEC team. The media picked Florida to win the East with 110 total points (13 first-place votes) barely ahead of second placed Kentucky.

“I think we have a chance to be great, but it’s going to require us coming in here every day and getting better and not really looking at those expectations.” Chandler Parsons said regarding the hype surrounding the Gators coming into the season.

Incoming freshmen Patric Young instantly enters Billy Donovan’s rotation and will be expected to make an impact on the court. Young, who has been compared to a young Al Horford is physically ready to compete at the college level, something that will go a long way in solidifying the paint for Coach Donovan. Other freshmen include Casey Prather, Will Yeguete and Cody Larson who could all see minutes at some point this season.

For the Gators to match their hype and expectations they’ll need to successfully fight through a tough non-conference schedule which includes Ohio State (Nov. 16), @Florida State (Nov. 28), Kansas State (Dec. 18) and @Xavier (Dec. 31) before heading into conference play. Combine the tough non-conference schedule with the fact that the SEC expects to send at minimum 5 teams dancing in March, the Gators are surely to be battle tested going into the Big Dance.

Slovenia scored on an Algerian goalkeeping mistake to win 1-0, and take the lead in the group.  Robert Koren’s late goal, puts an immense amount of pressure on the Americans to go out and solidify all 3 points to make sure they’re in prime position for qualification into the Knock Out stages.

Slovenia failed to impress me throughout their match against Algeria. I’ve said before that Algeria’s was a sleeper, and in the game they were possibly the better side until a stupid red card was issued to Ghezzal, their substitute. It forced Algeria back into a shell, and eventually Slovenia cracked it on a horrible mistake from the goalie.

Coach Bradley is going to have some tough selections to make in this game. Does he stick with the lackluster Ricardo Clark and play defensively? Or does he go out and attack and use someone like Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu or even Benny Feilhaber. I’d be in favor of Edu or Holden because of the creativity they can offer going forward.

Slovenia Player to Watch: Robert Koren — The West Brom midfielder, and the Slovenian captain is the key main for Slovenia. He pulls the strings in their attack, and will need to be shut down by the likes of Michael Bradley to keep a hold of the game.

USA Player to Watch: Jozy Altidore — Plenty of service will come his way in this match because Dempsey and Donovan will get on the ball regularly in this match. He’ll need to be his same physical self, and bag a goal to send the USA into the next match with the full 3 points.

My selection for the USA Team — Howard; Bocanegra, DeMerit, Onyewu, Cherundolo; Holden, Bradley, Dempsey, Donovan; Altidore, Findley

The team I picked is one that can go out and possibly win this game by 2, 3 or even 4 goals. They have all the makings of a team that can attack from the start. Pressure falls onto Donovan and Dempsey’s shoulders to influence this game and really lead the Americans to victory.

Prediction — 2-0; Altidore, Donovan.

Tim Howard, goalkeeper, A — Couldn’t prevent the Gerrard goal, but was absolutely fantastic the rest of the way. Stopped two breakaways, and committed himself to anything near him in the air. Complete performance from the American #1.

Carlos Bocanegra, left-back, C+ — He was good in the beginning of the match. He shut down Lennon and didn’t allow him room. As time went on, Lennon started getting best of him with his blistering pace.

Oguchi Onyewu, centre-half, B- — Some very nice aerial challenges, as well as a key tackle on Frank Lampard stood out to me. The rest of the way he was suspect. He was caught napping on the England goal, and he didn’t exactly command the back like you’d like to see.

Jay DeMerit, centre-half, B+ — DeMerit had himself a day. He rendered Wayne Rooney completely useless and invisible. Heskey got the best of him in the air, but his main job was to keep Rooney in check, he did that.

Steve Cherundolo, right-back, B+ — ‘Dolo got the best of Milner early on and forced Capello to even make a sub in the first half, replacing him. Nothing changed with Wright-Phillips came on, ‘Dolo got the best of him as well. Top performance.

Clint Dempsey, midfield, C+ — Credit for his goal, but other then that he was a ghost. He failed to get on the ball often enough, and he failed to make a true impact that we need from the technical Dempsey. He needs to demand the ball in some situations.

Landon Donovan, midfield, B- — Again, didn’t exactly get into the match but he did his part in tracking back defensively. He always finds a way to impact the game, and he did it defensively.

Ricardo Clark, midfield, D — Completely useless. Failed to play any balls out of the back, didn’t make too many tackles to break up play and was to blame in part for the England goal.

Michael Bradley, midfield, B — Distribution wasn’t exactly top notch, but his clogging in the middle of the field was great. Bradley successfully cut off Gerrard and Lampard from Rooney. It was a key performance.

Jozy Altidore, striker, B — Unlucky not to take his goal when he bullrushed passed Jamie Carragher. Jozy was active all day, and worked his tail off.

Robbie Findley, striker, C+ — In over his head, but used his pace to try to attack the England defense. Findley is getting experience on the fly, it’ll be interesting to see who Coach Bradley picks against Slovenia.

Subs

Edson Buddle / Stuart Holden, No grade — Not enough time on the pitch to grade.

Midfielders
• DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers (Scotland)
• Michael Bradley, Moenchengladbach (Germany)
• Ricardo Clark, Frankfurt (Germany)
• Clint Dempsey, Fulham (England)
• Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
• Maurice Edu, Rangers (Scotland)
• Benny Feilhaber, Aarhus (Denmark)
• Stuart Holden, Bolton (England)
• Jose Torres, Pachuca (Mexico)

Defenders
• Carlos Bocanegra, Rennes (France) (captain)
• Jonathan Bornstein, Chivas USA
• Steve Cherundolo, Hannover (Germany)
• Jay DeMerit, Watford (England)
• Clarence Goodson, IK Start (Norway)
• Oguchi Onyewu, AC Milan (Italy)
• Jonathan Spector, West Ham (England)

Goaltenders
• Brad Guzan, Aston Villa (England)
• Marcus Hahnemann, Wolverhampton (England)
• Tim Howard, Everton (England

Going through World Cup qualifying with new players and old players, there has been questions raised to the lineup and formation that Bob Bradley tends to put out. Charlie Davies’ tragic injury really throws wrench into exactly what Bradley was accustomed to playing, as Altidore and Davies really formed a great strike pair.

Tim Howard

Spector        DeMerit         Onyewu    Bocanegra

MBradley            M Edu

Holden                                   Donovan

Clint Dempsey

Jozy Altidore

This formation offers a variety of things for the United States. Both Bradley and Edu posses the defensive capabilities to cover for the outside backs pushing up the field in support of the attack, and they both have the abilities to create in the middle of the field through passes. Tough ball winning, strong tacklers will be needed to advance out of the group stages.

Stuart Holden on the right side provides natural width, and the ability to put a good cross in to be finished. He is deceptive, quick and smart. His time with Bolton in the EPL will pay off, even if it was only on the training grounds for the most part.

Landon Donovan on the left gives him the abilities to cut inside on his natural right foot and create. Donovan has the abilities to beat any man that’s marked on him, and he can switch with Holden as both of them have adequate left feet.

Clint Dempsey gets the position of “playing in the hole.” He will be behind Jozy Altidore, but in front of the two center midfielders. Dempsey is creative and this fits him perfectly. He plays this role with Fulham at times and excels at it. Dempsey won’t have to worry about defensive responsibilities if he’s playing here. Also, all three of Donovan, Dempsey and Holden can switch positions on the fly.

At defense, Spector goes to right back after playing much of the season for West Ham at left back.  He made some costly mistakes for his club, he that’s top notch competition and he’s still young. He should be more then solid at right back for the USA.

DeMerit and Onyewu will be the pairing in the middle of the defense. This could be the weak spot in our defense. Both are really strong in the air, but lack the ball skills to really shut down potential star strikers. They’ll need help from Edu and Bradley, so this formation is fitting.

Bocanegra moves to left-back, where he plays at for his club in France. He’s going to be a rock where ever he is played, but at the left he’s a better option then Bornstein who has failed to impress time and time again.

Since failing to qualify for Euro 2008, the English have played nearly impeccable soccer, compiling a 9-0-1 record and 28 goal differential in World Cup qualifying. They also boast a roster of nothing but players from the English Premier League, arguably the best league in the world. Although England in recent years have struggled at the World Cup, they have no excuses to not only advance out of group C but to win the entire group with a clean record.

Game to watch: vs. USA June 12 @ 2:30 PM ET. The USA is the favorites to finish behind England and the two teams meet to kick off the action in group C. England will be looking for the full 3 points while the Americans will be content with a draw and perhaps a surprise victory.

Player to watch: Robert Green. Surprise, surprise I’m sure most people were looking to see Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard or Wayne Rooney as the player to watch but it’s Robert Green, who I think will be the starting goalie for the tournament. He needs to be a rock at the back for England, he’ll have John Terry in front of him to keep him safe but Green can’t make any errors. He had a very fine and consistent season for West Ham and should carry that into the tournament. If Green can keep balls out of the back of the net, and make the key save then England will have a chance to go very deep.

Notable players: Wayne Rooney (FWD), Steven Gerrard (AMID), Frank Lampard (AMID), John Terry (DEF), Ashley Cole (DEF)

Group Prediction: Group winner

Joe Thornton took huge strides forward to quieting the critics that have named him “No Show Joe” because of his playoff failure over his career.

Thornton played a silky smooth pass to Patrick Marleau in Overtime last night to beat the mighty Detroit Red Wings and take a commanding 3 to 0 lead in the series.

He also scored the Sharks second goal of the game to start their rally to come from behind.

“Business as usual,” Thornton said after the game.

Hats off to Joe Thornton after his gritty and determined display Tuesday night. Welcome to the show Joe.