Forget Graham Potter - West Ham's ideal David Moyes replacement is staring them in the face

This is Graham Potter's curse to endure now. Like so many unemployed names before him, he has slipped involuntarily into the role of perennial bookies' favourite. The conditions are, after all, perfect. The former Chelsea boss has been out of work long enough to suggest that he is ready for a return to the dugout, and boasts a vaguely impressive CV that could, arguably, qualify him for any possible managerial opening from the top six to the upper reaches of a relegation dogfight.

As such, and presumably against his will, on every occasion that a suitable job becomes available, it is only a matter of time before Potter finds himself dragged into the conversation by shortening odds, like Indiana Jones sucked into peril by the insatiable pull of quicksand.

The latest vacancy Potter has been linked with is, in fact, no vacancy at all. At the time of writing, David Moyes is still under the employ of West Ham, although the precariousness of his status is there for all to see. The Hammers have not won a game of football in any competition since the turn of the year, were soundly humiliated in a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, and have been at the centre of widespread reports suggesting that ongoing discussions between Moyes and those above him regarding a prospective contract extension have subsequently been put on hold. Even by the Scot's standards - a man who exudes the general demeanour of a gamekeeper who has just been told that his favourite grouse has come down with avian flu - it is a bleak time.

This is where Potter steps in, whether he likes it or not. On a whim, his name is arbitrarily scribbled onto a chalkboard in a basement by one of SkyBet's mischievous goblin underlings, and the next thing you know, idiots like me are writing columns like this trying to determine if he would be a good appointment or not. For what it's worth, he very probably would be. But that doesn't mean that there aren't better out there. Another manager who is frequently touted for jobs in the Premier League is Stade de Reims sensation Will Still. You might have heard of him.

Still is the multi-lingual, Football Manager playing, UEFA Pro Licence dodging darling of those vapid meme pages that infest your nightly doomscrolls - a man who, infamously, was costing Reims £22,000 in fines for every match that he managed at the beginning of his career, and who led the club on an absurd unbeaten run that had them snapping at the heels of French giants PSG.

Since then, things have calmed down a touch, but there is, ahem, still no denying that Still - just 31 years old, by the way - is one of the best young managers in European football. And what's more, he is a Hammer, through and through. Indeed, in previous interviews, the Belgian has made no secret of his desire to one day manage the club that he has supported since childhood. It's a passion and an understanding that no amount of signing bonuses or performance-related contract incentives could ever replicate.

Tactically, he is forward-thinking and positive, prioritising fluidity and movement in the final third, and overloading wide areas to create imbalanced situations and space in central areas. In many respects, he embodies the antithesis of the conservatism that has swiftly soured Moyes' tenure for a lot of West Ham supporters.

Of course, opting for Still over somebody like Potter would represent something of a gamble. Where some see precociousness, others see inexperience. But the quality of his work over the past year or so is proof enough that he is ready to take the next step in his fledgling career. Compared to other viable candidates, Still would be the optimistic choice, a proverbial breath of fresh air, untarnished by the misgivings of prior failures and utterly devoted to the claret and blue. There is, in other words, an awful lot to like. As for Potter, his curse might have to linger just a while longer.