Midweek madness...

A special treat for you all as I wanted a break from Xmas preparations so I'm going to do a midweek set of tips. There may not be as many as a weekend, but with English, Italian and Turkish top divisions having a full programme I'm sure we'll find a few!

Those of you that do follow at weekends will have been rewarded with six out of eight tips coming in, and most at above even money. This should have left you with some extra Xmas funds to spend down the pub. Or with loved ones, your choice. There were even a few extra winners for followers on Twitter @TopTopTips. I dare say there are few tipsters dishing out winners like this of late? A quick word of warning on that front though. If you're serious about betting then you should know this sort of fantastic weekend is the exception rather than the rule. Whilst I would seriously hope to show profit overall, it will not be at those levels. The bookies are rarely wrong, and even if you're finding value, it is by no means a guarantee of a winner.

Anyhoo, on to tipping!

Wolves v Norwich, Tuesday 1945

Norwich have been very kind to us this season and again obliged by denying Everton a win at the weekend. As I have mentioned before, they actually have a much better set of forwards than you may think from the names. Grant Holt, Steve Morison and Wes Hoolahan may have spent their careers away from this level, but they work as a unit and are proving a handful for most. Holt again netted at the weekend, using his immense girth to hold off his marker before pivoting like a prima ballerina to score. Their goalkeeper John Ruddy (ex-Cambridge United I might add) again enhanced his slim hopes of an international call up with a great performance. All in all they're a good team, no flash individuals, but a great unit and immense credit should go to Paul Lambert for that.

Wolves looked poor and somewhat stale in losing at home to a reinvigorated Stoke side at the weekend. Professional Yorkshireman Mick McCarthy may be amusingly no-nonsense, but you can imagine players failing to be roused by him at times. And that is the difference between these two sides at the moment. You wouldn't say there's a lot to choose between the sides on paper, although Wolves obviously cost more and have more experience, so blame for me fancying Norwich must lie with Big Mick's management. At present they're unbackable for me.

Back Norwich Draw No Bet at 2.5 with Coral.

Aston Villa v Arsenal, Wednesday 1945

Those of you who settled in for a solid days football yesterday will have no doubt been disappointed in the Aston Villa v Liverpool match if you were anything but a Pool fan. Villa looked absolutely useless. I have also commented before on how bad they've looked at times under the unpopular Alec McLeish, but I'll make the point again. He has shown throughout his managerial career that he is more than happy to forego passing or flair in favour of grinding out wins. In most away games you can exchange wins for draws. This is all well and good at a small or broke club, but it leaves you nowhere to hide when you are not getting results, and he isn't.

Arsenal, on the other hand, were involved in a great game at Eastland's against likely champions Man City. The match quite literally could have gone either way, and Arsenal had very legitimate shouts for a penalty to look back on as a turning point. They shouldn't have their usual issues with a hangover from a loss as there really were lots of positives to take, even in defeat. They must know they are no longer serious champion material, so to hang in their and almost get something at a ground that has not seen a home defeat this calendar year should be applauded. I think they'll be relishing a trip to Villa with the way they are playing.

Back Arsenal at 1.8 with Paddy Power.

Udinese v Juventus, Wednesday 1700

A top of the table clash in Serie A as they head for a winter break. Udinese were expected to revert back to an upper mid-table side after selling star players Alexis Sanchez and Gokhlan Inler over the summer, but have instead decided to attempt a title push. A lot of this has rested upon the evergreen shoulders of striker Antonio Di Natale, who at 34 is still banging them in. He was rested in the excellent 2-2 draw at Lazio on Sunday in anticipation of this game and will be looking forward to a chance to fire them top at Xmas. They are a very solid side who have only conceded two in seven home matches whilst scoring fourteen.

Juventus have also exceeded expectations in Antonio Conte's first season in charge. They flirted with danger last season so just getting back in European contendership would have been a reasonable target. However comma Conte has got them playing well above their previous efforts and brought the best out of Milos Krasic amongst others to see them joint top. They are unbeaten in seven away matches, but have shown a tendency to leak goals and have managed to draw four away. I think their unbeaten season may well come to an end in Udine.

Back Udinese at 3.1 with Victor Chandler.

Mersin Idman Yurdu v Eskisehirspor, Wednesday 1600

One of two tips from the Super Lig is promoted Mersin hosting in-form Eskisehir. Mersin have started the season well only losing to Fenerbahce, Bursaspor and Besiktas in their matches so far at home. They haven't scored many before this weekend when they somehow conjured five to win 5-3 away at Karabukspor. It was, as you'd imagine, a bit of a poor day for defenders all round though and should probably be discounted when taking into account the season as a whole. They have played eight, won three, drawn two and lost those three at home so far. They have both scored and conceded eight in those matches too to emphasise what a tight lot they usually are.

Eskisehirspor have again climbed the table on the back of being able to grind out tight wins at home so far this season. They did so again at the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Kayserispor. They have now won five on the bounce, with the last four all being 1-0 wins. As I mentioned at the weekend they build on a sturdy defence and defence minded midfield and look to snatch a goal to win. I think with Mersin's rather miserly forwards only averaging a goal a game they should be able to hold them off.

Back Eskisehirspor Draw No Bet at 2.1 with Coral.

Galatasaray v Manisaspor, Wednesday 1830

In Turkey at the moment no team is playing as well as Gala. They are rolling teams over with ease at present with the forwards Johan Elmander and Milan Baros particularly impressing. Baros may well be one of the more selfish strikers you'll see, but pair him with a big man like Elmander and give him the chances, and you're on to a winner. He scored again in an impressive performance in beating Orduspor away. At home they have only lost once, and that was very early on, and have scored fourteen in seven whilst only conceding eight. They have only conceded two in the last eight matches and have won six of those, including the last four.

Manisaspor started out brightly and have been as high as fourth in the table. They have now moved back into a more expected eight position now though as they are without a win in four. They have struggled for goals at times as is apparent from only sixteen goals in sixteen games evenly shared between their eight home and away matches. They have only lost once away, but they have drawn five of eight and are probably due a thrashing at present. Gala will fancy their chances of providing that, and I do too.

Back Galatasaray -1.5 at 2.15 with Bet365.