Former Liverpool midfielder Steve Nicol reckons Southampton striker Shane Long would have been a better signing than misfit Mario Balotelli. Balotelli joined Liverpool for £16m in the summer, while Long went from Hull to the south coast for £12m.
Nicol told talkSPORT: "They spent £16m on Balotelli but I would prefer to have signed someone like Shane Long. He's someone who will come on the field and throw his guts into a game and give you everything he's got.
"He might not have the ability or the CV of Balotelli but the fans would love him. Instead, you've got a guy who is not producing on the field and who's making a mockery of the club off the field."
