Love ricos response to my temerity to question Ball and Shinnie, I guess when you the play the man you lose the argument. Anyway you like a long winded analysis paralysis ramble so let me answer fully or as fully as i can muster.
1) Dom Ball
Played most of his career as a CB, his DNA is to play like a CB. DM deploys him as a DMC. One cannot question. Let me proffer a perspective.
I like Dom, he does his best and isnt a shitebag, he can cope v poor opposition in that position. However if you want to progress and move forward a defensive midfielder (actually a bit of a misnomer in my opinion) has to have a high level of technical ability be able to pass control and very quickly get ball out of his feet and start attacking play .. Callum Mcgregor played that role for Celtic at weekend a masterclass. Dom Ball , is not an DMC , he is a CB being force fitted into a position by a few managers. I wouldnt sign him.
2) Shinnie
O captain my captain ! Similar argument. He is conditioned to play LB , what he has over Dom is better , but not sufficient technical ability, but a heart of a lion and will to win.
That gets you so far, he appears to be beyond criticism at times. His positional sense is terrible, he is lightweight, technically for that position he is deficient, passing ,control, decision making at times is horrendous... root cause DNA is a LB. He mitigates due to what i have stated.
Final comment lets give Ferguson some breathing space when he isnt good, DM is hyping him up which am not sure is ultimately positive.