Have there been any other updates on Ukraine's role in the 2012 hosting ?

I read recently that their lack of progress was bordering on critical and that UEFA were pretty close to pressing the panic button on it.

No official updates, but lots of rumblings of that sort, which is why I asked Bob for a report from Lviv. I know from first hand experience that Kyiv needs work, but my concern is more about infrastructure outside the capital.

well after what i've seen in Vienna i'm not buying any of the stuff concerning taking the EURO away. like i mentioned on this board some time ago the Austrians clearly didn't manage to finish the motorway from Czech border to the capital. 70 kms from Brno took over 2 hours. so after completing the venues we don't really need to be afraid.

all the locals i met laughed at Platini's visit to Kiev. when he came to take a look at the Olympic stadium in Kiev there was a problem to pull down a trade center which prevented modernization of the stadium. on the day of his visit all cranes in the country came to help. obviously work stopped 15 mins after he was gone. but it's been sorted out apparently.

after crossing the border at first i was positively surprised cause motorway was much better than a year ago, same can be said about buildings on the ukrainian side border. it was all apparently co-financed by te EU. but after couple of kms motorway gets worse and worse. only hope is that 100 metres on each side of the road is state-owned there so there wouldn't be problems with purchasing the land etclike in Poland.

re Lviv. it's about 66 kms from the polish border but signs are so confusing that you can get lost quite easily even depite it being a straight way. it's even worse when trying to get out of the city, you need to ask neighbouring drivers about the way while driving. they remembered to put signs about the local swimming-pool or trading centre but pointing the way to the border somehow escaped them.

city centre is amazing. i've been there as a kid in 1987 and all i recall is the smell of piss everywhere. apparently it was still present about ten years ago but now somehow they managed to get rid of it. drinking and partying wise i'd say Lviv is ready even now, obviously there is lack of hotels and places to stay.

wizzair started operating in Ukraine recently and Lviv airport is about 30 mins from the main square.

stadium in Lviv: the day i was there they were at the stage of levelling the surface. just like in my city of Gdansk.

so i highly recommend Lviv before it changes western-style.

Excellent review, many thanks.

Back on topic, in half an hour Valencia are expected to announce that they have re-signed Villa (for more than 3 million a year) and rejected Real Madrid's offer of 40 million euro plus either Javi Garcia or Saviola.

what is the word on this albert Riera that Rafa is frantically trying to sign? is he going to be the man to lift liverpool out of the shite, or is he just another not very well judged purchase?

Man City reject.

well I knew that much, but it would have been very difficult for any attacker to look good in stuart pearce's city team.

Sid lowe didn't seem too enthusiastic about him on the radio last night, but might he be one of these players who is going to make liverpool more of a footballing team and less of a trial to watch?

Riera scored a goal against Sevilla at Hampden in the UEFA Cup final last year.

I got an e-mail from a Liverpool-supporting colleague an hour ago which claimed that they had given up on Riera and gone after James Milner instead.

he looked pretty good in that game I thought. It is a real step up though from a team like valencia to churning out performances for a team challenging for a title though. I suppose there aren't too many players available with that experience.

Espanyol, not Valencia.

He is quite skillful, but by no means "the answer".

Don't you mean Espanyol?

I dunno: Valencia should have been right up there challenging last season but just had a nightmare year.

Marca now confirm that both Villa and Cazorla have renewed their contracts with Valencia / Villarreal. Quick off the mark, these Comunidad Valencianos ...

Depor go 1-0 up away to Hajduk (first leg 0-0), Riki playing very well. Natives not happy in the Poljud.

And Depor go on to win 2-0. Chapeau to them, though Hajduk were very disappointing ...

I'm contemplating a trip to Anfield for Atleti's visit there. I was mightily surprised at the margin of triumph over Schalke.

Anyone entered or considering entering ESPN's La Liga fantasy football?
http://laligafantasy.soccernet.com/CleverTV/en/espn/na/21/clienthome.do