Stam:
"United are experiencing big problems at the moment. Teams like Arsenal and Chelsea are going forward quickly while United have stood still."
Steve McClaren:
"I was getting everything I wanted at Manchester United," McClaren told the League Managers' Association website.
"Sir Alex decided he was going to retire and it could have left me in the last year of my contract, wondering what was happening so I took the opportunity.
"But if he wasn't retiring then I would have stayed at Manchester United and been perfectly happy doing that and waiting for my opportunity when that came.
"I wanted to try management, a little bit earlier than I thought, and I loved it. It's everything I thought it would be. Different, difficult at times, but very rewarding."
Turning to the plight of his former team, McClaren thinks that the loss of Rio Ferdinand - suspended for eight months because of a missed drugs test - is a major factor in their poor form.
"There's a lot been said," he added. "But I think the biggest single loss to them has been Rio Ferdinand.
"I think before he was suspended, the back four were impregnable. You just couldn't get through.
"We played them before his suspension, and they were absolutely immaculate and I couldn't see anybody scoring against them. That's a terrific platform to go on and win a championship.
"Now they've lost Rio and they've lost that platform. It takes time to develop a new partnership and they are suffering because of that.
"For me that is the single biggest reason why they have fallen away now."
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge:
“When you are a big club without success, there is huge pressure to do better.”
And The Times report a couple of likely summer targets:
Ferguson has identified Jorge Andrade, the Deportivo La Coruña defender, as a leading target as he bids to address the defensive problems undermining United’s campaign. Ferguson has been following the 25-year-old centre half for three years, since he was at FC Porto, but is stepping up his interest as he prepares for an overhaul of his squad at the end of a hugely disappointing season.
United officials are understood to have met Andrade’s agent, Jorge Mendes, while in Portugal last month for the European Cup tie against Porto. The outcome of their discussions with Mendes — who also represents Cristiano Ronaldo, Andrade’s Portugal team-mate — was not entirely favourable, but United hope to lure him away for far less than the £40 million buy- out fee stipulated in his contract.
Though United have underperformed in all departments this season — notably in midfield, where they have been short of creative inspiration after the sales of David Beckham and Juan Sebastián Verón — the defence will be the main focus of the rebuilding. A specialist left back is also a priority, while Ferguson is eager to sign a long-term challenger to Gary Neville on the right-hand side, with Paulo Ferreira, the Porto defender, a possible target.
United have denied reports that Quinton Fortune will be out for 12 months after injuring a knee in training this month.