The truth about 2016 when Brendan Rodgers faced up to the Warburton Revolution and proved the experts wrong

The accepted wisdom for many of season 2016/17 is that Brendan Rodgers did what was expected when he won the Treble. It was no big deal, deserving of no fan-fare or special recognition.

Rodgers took over a well managed squad on the back of winning five successive titles, kept things going and delivered in line with expectations.

That view is contrary to the pre-season predictions of three reporters at The Sun who were far from alone. On Radio Clyde Hugh Keevins and Derek Johnstone led the cheerleading as they tipped Mark Warburton to follow up losing the Scottish Cup Final to Hibs by lifting the SPFL title.

Not only would Warbo win the title but he’d complete the Treble with star signing Joey Barton picking up on the Player of the Year awards.

Celtic went on to win the Treble but Warburton was emptied in February with Barton packing up his coffee machine and heading to Burnley on the back of a humiliating 5-1 defeat in the September Glasgow derby.

As well as Barton, Warburton strengthened his squad with Nico Kranjcar, Filip Senderos, Jordan Rossiter, Clint Hill, Matt Crooks, Josh Windass and Joey Garner.

The following summer Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Jack, Bruno Alves, Eduardo Herrera, Carlos Pena and Graham Dorrans joined the club.

Steven Gerrard was able to bring in Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic, Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent and Kyle Lafferty but was unable to put a dent in Celtic’s domination. Since Rodgers took charge of Celtic in 2016 the club has won 17 of the 21 domestic trophies in offer.

Rodgers saw off sustained spending from Ibrox to deliver seven trophies out of seven, it is unlikely that he will be having sleepless nights about the threat from Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland and Sam Lammers.