IMHO, part of the reason that we've struggled as a creative unit over the last 3 seasons is the "undroppable" Ferguson.
I'm maybe missing a lot of the off the ball work he does (as I am only watching from afar on RedTV), but for a guy with the supposed pedigree and admirers he has, there are a real dearth of games that I can remember where he has grabbed a game by the scruff of the neck and actually controlled it like a CM should (and like I'd expect of a "multi-million pound" player in the SPL). Every other Dons midfielder has had to try to fit in around the game that he wants to play (sometimes deep lying, sometimes roving attacker), so they're ultimately not as effective (as he's often occupying the space they should be in).
I do think he'd thrive with better players around him, but still believe we should've seen much more in a Dons shirt from a guy with aspirations to play in the EPL or Serie A. I believe McLean, Shinnie and even Christie actually delivered more as Dons central midfield players than Ferguson has. And I think Barron has shown more of the influence I'd expect from an international than Ferguson has in the 2nd half of this season.
[Step back and prepare for flak...]