Follow the Tipster...

This weeks title refers is a suggestion for those of you well versed in the social media world to follow me on the Twitter for some extra tips, particularly midweek when I sadly don't have the time to complete a full blog. You can find me by searching @TopTopTips if you are interested. This week I have posted some Champions League and Turkish Super Lig bets which have shown fantastic profit so hopefully some of you are already following.

Speaking of the Champions League, hasn't it been a funny week? Funny, haha, in Man Utd's case. Regular readers will know I have been banging on about how over-rated they have been by 'experts' and bookies alike. The complete lack of a decent midfielder and the ongoing hot and cold Wayne Rooney are just two of a myriad of reasons why they are failing to set the pitch alight. This week has seen them somehow conspire to exit the competition despite being drawn in a very weak group. And those of you who have watched the matches will know that it is generally the midfield battles that are going against them where more adept European teams are out-thinking and passing them. Man City also left the competition despite garnering a very respectable ten points and defeating Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. I would now imagine they stand a very good chance of winning the Europa League as even their reserves are now a frightening proposition compared to the sides in that cup.

Music comes from How Dare You with Week Of Heart Attacks.

Norwich v Newcastle, Saturday 1500

First tip is from Carrow Road with Norwich hosting Newcastle. Now, I tipped Newcastle as a bet last week at home to Chelsea and were Mike Riley to have correctly sent off David Luiz early on then we may well have seen a different outcome. However comma we didn't so we have to accept the loss and move on! The thing that has enabled Newcastle to enjoy their brilliant run this season has been a lack of injuries to their major players. Unfortunately last weekend we saw both centre halves depart injured and this leaves the Geordie's in dire straits. James Perch is a dreadful right back by trade and seeing him floundering at centre back in the Chelsea game may unfortunately be a site the fans get used to seeing for a while.

Norwich have been steadily picking up enough points to stear clear of the relegation places so far, but came unstuck in a massive way to Man City. There should really be no embarrassment around that humping, even Man Utd fared worse, but it does give them a kick in the pants. They have had a decent defeat coming from what I have seen and Paul Lambert should use the result as a way of getting them going again. Steve Morison may lack the touch of a Premier League player, but he is willing and will surely give the makeshift Newcastle defence a headache.

Back Norwich at 2.5 with BetFred.

Stoke v Tottenham, Sunday 1600

Another regular occurrence of late in this column has been backing Spurs. A shocking state of affairs I am sure you will agree, but I would challenge you to find a more reliable team besides Man City this term. The first eleven is as good as anyone besides the Blue Mooners and the midfield in particular is full of pace, flair and effort. Harry Redknapp could even afford to drop Rafa Van Der Vaart last time out at WBA in the knowledge Jermaine Defoe was performing well. It's a strange new world in the Prem, and nothing is stranger than Spurs being sure things.

On to Stoke, and they have been pretty abysmal of late. A win away at Everton in their last match should not disguise the fact that for a lot of the season so far they have looked slow and possibly have been figured out by many sides. They obviously rely on the physical side of the game more than any other side in the division, and when that side of the game fails they don't really have a Plan B. They will not like the pace Spurs will show them and after a weeks rest I can't see them having an enjoyable afternoon at all.

Back Tottenham at 2.1 with Victor Chandler.

Real Madrid v Barcelona, Saturday 2100

The biggest match of the weekend is without doubt El Clasico in Spain with Barcelona travelling to Madrid to take on Jose Mourinho's men. Before the season started I advised backing Barcelona for the Liga title, but if they lose this they can almost kiss goodbye to that before Xmas. Jose has got Madrid winning with the sort of relentless intensity associated with his spell at Chelsea, but with added flair. The defence is as solid as you would expect from the Portugese, but with attackers like Ronaldo (the divey, prissy one), Ozil and the reborn Benzema they are racking up the goals too. I would go as far as to say they are currently ahead of Barcelona with the Catalans looking tired and in some cases desperate for form.

Barcelona have been winning with some class this season, but not as regularly as they have done in previous seasons. There are still 5-0 beatings handed out, but they are interspersed with 0-0 draws and games where they just can't kill teams off. This can probably be linked to the injuries to Iniesta and Xavi at points as well as the loss of form David Villa has been experiencing. At times it is Messi and Fabregas pulling them through games. In previous seasons the squad has tired and players have stepped in and done enough to keep the victories piling up, but this time it sometimes looks a bridge too far. They are meeting Madrid when they really could do without it and I think we may see Jose leaping around and winding people up late on Saturday night.

Back Real Madrid at 2.4 with William Hill.

Espanyol v Atletico Madrid, Sunday 2030

The late match on Sunday sees Madrid's other team travelling to Barcelona to take on Espanyol. Espanyol started the season exceptionally well to sit high up before a recent dip in form has seen them settle in around midtable. They haven't been outclassed in any of their recent matches though, just narrowly beaten. They looked good at times last week against a talented Valencia side, enough for me to think they are just a decent win away from a few good results. They have a few young players in their side who will inevitably need consoling after a defeat and one win can make all the difference in terms of the sides confidence heading into matches.

Atletico Madrid are simply being Atletico Madrid! They are an absolute mess of a club at the best of times, but this season perhaps as much as we have seen for a few years. They have played eight matches at home and won five and drawn three to remain unbeaten, however away they have yet to register anything more than a solitary draw from six outings. They can look great when Jose Reyes and Falcao are playing well, but sadly they have been more miss than hit of late. I don't see them arresting their poor away form just yet.

Back Espanyol at 3.0 on Betfair.

Augsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Saturday 1430

First up from Germany is promoted Augsburg hosting this seasons surprise challengers Monchengladbach. Augsburg have shown plenty of willing so far, but sadly look destined for a return to the Bundesliga II as they have only two victories so far and sit bottom of the table. The problem is a leaky defence mainly that has conceded almost two goals a game on average. Sadly the majority of the players have little or no top flight knowhow and it shows at timess with some naive decisions and a gulf in class against the big boys.

Gladbach have been another favourite of mine this term having netted me a great deal of profit so far. Last weekend saw them draw with Dortmund and give us a refund on our Draw No Bet wager. They were again very impressive against a side that are looking likely to retain their title having found improved form. Gladbach started the season relying on 1-0 wins built on a solid tactical structure and the odd bit of flair from Marco Reus. Recently though, they have discovered an attacking verve that saw them blow Koln away in the derby two weeks ago. Reus has had a rest now and returns alongside the impressive Hause in midfield.

Back Borussia Monchengladbach at 2.0 with Victor Chandler.

Stuttgart v Bayern Munich, Sunday 1630

Sunday sees league leaders Munich travelling to Stuttgart for what should be a tough test. Stuttgart currently sit just behind the very top of the Bundesliga in seventh spot. They have a team built from the back and have only conceded more goals so far than the run-away top three. They have a decent home record too with four wins, two draws and two losses, both of which came early on. They are no slouches in front of goal either with fourteen in eight at home very good when combined with a measly seven conceded in the same matches.

Bayern started the season off like a train steam-rolling all in front of them with apparent ease. After the removal of Van Gaal and the appointment of Jupp Heynckes the team have again looked a lot happier and the football has followed. The transformation of Mario Gomez from something of a joke figure to one of Europe's most feared attackers has been a particular highlight so far. They have some great attackers with Gomez, Ribery and the returning Robben all playing well, but they rely heavily on Bastian Schweinsteiger holding it all together in midfield. His absence through injury has been noticed in recent games, particularly against the well drilled Mainz side that beat them recently. If Stuttgart can imitate their discipline and effort they have more than a chance of an upset.

Back Stuttgart and the Draw Double Chance at 2.5 with Coral.

Genclerbirligi v Orduspor, Sunday 1100

Sunday morning action from Turkey's Super Lig sees promoted Orduspor travelling to Gencler. I have previously mentioned that perhaps more so than in a lot of European leagues, home form seems a particular trait in Turkey. Gencler are by no means a brilliant side, and their position in twelfth highlights that, but they have only lost once at home all season. Even that was to a very good Galatasaray side who have gone top of the Super Lig by beating rivals Fenerbahce in mideek 3-1. Take that result away and they look very backable against most teams when at home.

Orduspor started the season very well and rose as high as fourth in the table. This could never be maintained though with a strikeforce that has only scored eleven goals so far, the second worst behind second bottom Samsunspor. They have not won in seven matches and look vulnerable when they can't score to being caught out by only one goal. They need some sort of boost to move back up the table, but sadly I see them descending towards a relegation scrap unless a striker is pulled out of a hat soon.

Back Genclerbirligi at 2.2 with Stan James.

Trabzonspor v Galatasaray, Sunday 1700
A real top of the table clash between two of Turkish football's big guns on Sunday afternoon. Trabzonspor ran Fenerbahce close last season and with match rigging allegations against Fener they have every reason to believe they were robbed of Super Lig glory. They drew with Lille this week to end their campaign in the Champions League dropping into the Europa League. They should not be ashamed though to do this as they were rank outsiders in a group containing Inter Milan, Lille and CSKA Moscow. They are a solid side who also contain players like Yilmaz capable of scoring the goals to beat most sides in Turkey.

Galatasaray went top of the table on Wednesday night after a 3-1 victory in the Istanbul derby over arch rivals Fenerbahce. They have been quietly stringing together a lengthy list of tight margin victories to put themselves in position to overtake Fener and they performed brilliantly in achieving it. This marin of victory owed a lot to the passion of the derby though. It is no normal match for either side and Fenerbahce chased victory as they may not have done in any other fixture. Let nothing take away from a very good win for Gala, they deserved it and should now push on and cement their league position.

Back Galatasaray at 3.0 with Stan James.