Source: Daily_Mail
Mr Agent: The future's bright with the NextGen Series
Sam Stapleton, an FA licensed players' agent and co-founder of Star Management Signings Ltd (right), has signed up for Sportsmail to give our readers an agent's insight into the transfer window and football's big talking points. [LNB]Read his views throughout the summer. [LNB] MR AGENT ON TWITTER Click here to follow StarMSignings[LNB]So Mark Warbutons brainchild, the NextGen Series, started on Wednesday night. [LNB]The Under 19 equivalent of the Champions League, involving many teams from top clubs around the world, is a fantastic idea and gives the youngsters a real opportunity to play against their counterparts at some of the best clubs in the world.[LNB] I'm looking forward to the competition maturing and seeing some of the prospects that develop from it. [LNB] Plenty of promise: Conor Coady (R) will get a chance to showcase his skills in the NextGen Series for Liverpool[LNB]I hope sponsors continue to get behind it and help funding to enable clubs to be able take part every year. [LNB]Celtic lost to Marseille 1-0, Liverpool were soundly beaten at Anfield by Sporting Lisbon 3-0, Aston Villa were also beaten by Ajax 2-0 and Tottenham drew 2-2 with Basel. [LNB]If you want more information on the tournament have a look at www.nextgenseries.com. [LNB]National service can be tricky for transfersThere are international games this year from September 2-6. [LNB]Will this not make things difficult at the end of the transfer window? [LNB]Players will most likely travel to their respective countries on Sunday 28 or Monday 29 August. [LNB]The transfer window closes at midnight on the last day of the month. [LNB]If a deal is done at the last minute that isn't perhaps anticipated, then logistically it could be a nightmare with regards to paperwork and more importantly a medical. [LNB] London calling: Brazil played Scotland at the Emirates Stadium in March and they will be back in the capital to face Ghana at Craven Cottage next month[LNB]I remember we had a player who once signed with a club while he was away on international duty. [LNB]I had to send everything through a fax machine from the European hotel that we were staying in and the club actually sent a representative out with the paperwork to ensure that the deal was done. [LNB]No medical took place and perhaps this is a gamble that some clubs will have to take.[LNB]If the player has been a regular over the last few seasons then you would have thought his medical history would be fine but you never know. [LNB]I think I'll be going to watch Brazil against Ghana on the September 5 at Craven Cottage. It should be a great game.[LNB]Playing the long gameAn interesting thing that I found out the other day is that one of our clients in the Conference was told that he has to play the long ball. [LNB]Perhaps that in itself isn't a surprise in that league but when a player is told that he will be fined if he brings the ball out or plays a short pass then I don't think it's right. [LNB]The player is technically good and still young so it's a shame that he won't be able to develop those skills. [LNB]Managers are under a lot of pressure to get results and some play the way that brings the results rather than attractive football.[LNB]They aren't interested in developing players but I guess that's understandable and the way the game is nowadays. [LNB]We have another player who is at Stockport, under Dietmar Hamann, and they like to try and play.[LNB] I think once they settle, as they have a lot of new players, then they will be a good team and hard to play against.[LNB]Josh on the up at Oldham Josh Parker at Oldham is doing well. He made his first start this week and made an impact. [LNB]He's enjoying first-team football now and playing for a cause. [LNB] Top boss: Paul Dickov[LNB]It's important for young players to take responsibility for their actions and playing in a first team in League One, playing week in week out, is far better than staying at QPR in the Premier League. [LNB]He is improving every week and, with Paul Dickov, I think he is being managed by a very good, young, up-and-coming manager, who used to of course play the same position as Josh and will therefore really help him push on. [LNB]In the game this week, an away win at Scunthorpe, a nine-year-old girl was hit after a misplaced shot by another member of his team. [LNB]After the game Josh gave his shirt to the young girl. She and her dad were so happy and were very grateful. [LNB]It's little things like that which show that he is maturing as a man as well as a player and I hope that he will become the player that we feel he can be.[LNB]Programmed for successI am looking forward to the day that one of our clients actually accepts an invitation to go on Soccer AM. [LNB]All of our clients are nice guys and I know they would come across well on the programme. [LNB] Enlarge However, they always decline the chance to go on. A lot of our clients are not from the UK and are perhaps not so confident in their English. [LNB]They may be worried about how they are perceived. [LNB] I think it is a good way for the fans to understand more about the player. [LNB]As some of our young English clients break through then I will look forward to seeing them on there. [LNB] Mr Agent: Why Stoke could emerge as dark horses this season Mr Agent: Barton won't hang around at Newcastle... who now struggle to attract top players Mr Agent: Glamour games and backheels are fine... but is summer the time for talks?[LNB]
