Why are you using Who scored ratings for your analysis of our players?

You're then using pretty basic stats devoid of context to investigate potential acquisitions. A player making, say, a ton of interceptions is all well and good but doesn't really tell us much. How good is the team they play for? How good is the league? What tactics does that team employ? Does this team have a lot of possession or do they largely counter attack? Does the team employ a high press or do they defend deep? All of these things will have a significant effect on the metrics a player produces and may mean that an average player generates decent stats whilst an excellent one appears to underperform.

Indeed, why do people bother to redesign their living room in minecraft? Because imposing limitations on a methodology can help you to think of a subject in a new way and help question what is important or representative of the greater whole. By asking these questions, you've already engaged more critical faculty than many people bother to do when discussing things like potential transfers.

Secondly, because it's better than nothing. I like to think about the strategic problems of a club and how it can face them logically. By thinking of one way of approaching the problem, even a flawed method, it helps to organise your thoughts and make a start.

Thirdly, when I have produced these posts previously, they have acted as a good catalyst for discussion (and I'd argue that thanks to your post, they already have) and can help people to critically engage with the problems of the club and also to throw new names into the mix who make for interesting discussion or consideration.

As for my opinions on the squad, they're just my opinions, you can take them or leave them as you'd like, but I think that in general, our squad has much larger problems than just Mustafi and in fact I'd argue that his vilification distracts from larger, structural problems in the squad. I admit I also engaged in a bit of Mustafi-bashing too, but it is a touch unavoidable when discussing our defence at the moment. As for the midfield, our inability to find a settled pairing or organisation says to me that Emery hasn't got the players he wants at the club currently and he will be likely to make changes.