Former England manager Graham Taylor has blasted Rio Ferdinand, claiming he will never recover from his dip in form this season.

Ferdinand has had a difficult term so far this season due to injury and a loss of form.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, Taylor said: "What I am going to say will probably surprise a lot of people, but I think Rio Ferdinand has lost his legs.

"He struggled to keep up with Fernando Torres in Manchester United's game against Liverpool last week and I just don't think he is - or will be - the wonderful player he once was."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has responded angrily to the gloomy speculation about his prize defender.

"I don't know where it is coming from," Sir Alex told The Guardian.

"I just have to put it down to the modern culture of humiliating people. That is your opinion and it may well be wrong."

I have to side with Sir Alex to a degree on this point. Speculation about the degradation of players based on 500 minutes of match watching just don't make sense. Many things explain poor form. Yes, maybe Ferdinand has lost it. But why rush to this conclusion?

Maybe Rio has actually been injured. Maybe he is coping with difficult personal problems. Maybe he is simply enduring a dip in form. We, the fans and media, just don't know the precise reason for Ferdinand's struggles.

Ferdinand has been a world class defender for club and country. I hope he can regain his form soon.