Zach Clough: Where did it all go wrong for man who should have been made for Nottingham Forest?

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Nottingham Forest + Clough = A recipe for success.

That is, of course, unless you have the Christian name, Zach.

In that case, the trend is most definitely bucked!

Which is unfortunate because all of the components are there.

Merchandise and commercial departments at the City Ground must have been rubbing their hands together when a new arrival rolled into town on January 30, 2017.

Forest sign Clough – you couldn’t wish for a better story.

How could this possibly end in disaster?

Well, two-and-a-half years later and a script which should have been a Trentside fairytale has become a gut-wrenching horror story.

Zach Clough has not been the third coming.

Iconic

Brian raised the bar, Nigel held it steady, Zach has dropped it and got it wrapped around his neck.

Things were not supposed to play out like this.

Reds supporters should have been snapping up Clough shirts in their droves, and sticking a No. 16 on the back in homage to the latest hero to boast the most iconic of monikers.

At least those who indulged themselves can take comfort in the fact that the name still means something.

I just like the No. 16, what of it, it’s my birth date/address/lucky bingo number.

Zach? No, this is my nod to Brian.

Such holes should not have needed to be dug.

Clough III started so well, with four goals recorded in his opening eight appearances for Forest.

One of those was recorded in a meeting with Derby at a packed City Ground, with there seemingly the promise of more to come.

There wasn’t.

Forgettable

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Said effort against the Rams remains Clough’s last for the Reds – and the chances of him adding to that tally are growing slimmer by the day.

He has not made a competitive appearance for the club since January 27, 2018.

Loan spells have been taken in back at Bolton, where he previously shone so brightly, and Rochdale.

Both moves away from NG2 have been as forgettable as a spell in Nottingham.

Another switch is on the cards this summer.

A few eyebrows were probably raised when Clough’s name figured on the teamsheet for Tuesday’s U23 friendly at Mansfield.

Does he still play for us?

Sort of, but not for much longer.

Deadwood is being cleared from the Nottingham Forest and, as painful and wrong as it sounds, Clough needs to be set free as an unfortunate flop.