from BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7043936.stm)

Interesting move. Someone Benitez has worked with for a number of years has been sent packing by the Anfield hierarchy, and prevented from joining another club until June 2008.

Has he been critical of on or off field events lately?

from BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7043936.stm)

Interesting move. Someone Benitez has worked with for a number of years has been sent packing by the Anfield hierarchy, and prevented from joining another club until June 2008.

Has he been critical of on or off field events lately?

No! There has been tension between Rafa and Paco for some time now. What tipped the scales was Paco being over friendly with Mourinho after the Liverpool v Chelsea match earlier this season. In Rafa's eyes Paco overstepped the mark by engaging in handshakes and hugs before having a lengthy discussion with Mourinho, considering the fued that has been simmering between the two managers in recent seasons. Since that day, the two never really spoke on proffesional terms again and it was decided that Paco should depart the club on Gardening Leave, which has now been made permanent. However, considering Paco knows every single tactic and method Rafa uses in his work, Liverpool have ensured that Paco will not be allowed to join a rival club, not in the emmediate future anyway.

This break up of relations between the two is not good news for Liverpool as a club. Paco is a very good coach who deals with team fitness. He was also instrumental in team bonding, as stated by alot of the Liverpool players. He has been approached by a few top teams with regards to hiring his services, Manchester Utd, Chelsea and Barcelona to name a few, which is why Liverpool are holding him to his original contract which expires in the summer 2008, to avoid one of the top English clubs getting their claws into him thus gaining valuable indepth information as to how Rafa actually works and the exact tactics he employs!

I myself am really sorry to see him leave!

Hmmm, sounds like Benitez has been spitting his dummy and throwing his toys out of the pram.

Any more clichéd metaphors I can throw in?

Hmmm, sounds like Benitez has been spitting his dummy and throwing his toys out of the pram.

Any more clichéd metaphors I can throw in?

Probably, but that pretty much covers it.

"You can't be friends with him, I don't like him! You're fired!" :roll:

Probably, but that pretty much covers it.

"You can't be friends with him, I don't like him! You're fired!" :roll:
Like i said, the spat about Mourinho was the final straw.

There was other ongoing spats beforehand which included Rafa changing the pre-season programme to try and rule out another bad start to the season. Another ongoing fued was because Paco was approached by Valencia a while ago and he approached Rafa to say he was considering this approach!

The fact that Paco was seen to be exchanging hugs and deep conversation with a man who Benitez despises was just the straw that broke the camels back!