THE name we’ve chosen to describe Celtic’s playing style is Ange-ball, a fast, thrilling, all-inclusive type of game. It’s seen Celtic score 28 goals already this season. You now approach every match with the excitement of your first visit to the circus. What will Ange’s team give us today?   

Yet, Ange-ball is an update of an older song, first produced by Jock Stein. And, for better or for worse it has been the template bequeathed to every Celtic manager since. Stein was once asked about the referee factor in Celtic’s games in Scotland following one of those periods when we’d encountered some idiosyncratic decisions from the men in black. He suggested that only by scoring more goals can you overcome ‘honest mistakes’: they can’t cancel them all.

Until last night in Alkmaar I’d chosen to remain aloof from the general mood of exultation that’s enveloped the Celtic support in these giddy first couple of months of Ange Postecoglu’s reign. Two fill-your-boots wins against sides that will feature all season in the Scottish Premiership relegation battle are easy on the eye, but others will feast on Dundee and St Mirren too.

I was more than willing also to suspend judgment on defeats by Midtjylland and Hearts. The Danish champions were always going to be a tough challenge for a team in the midst of major reconstruction and with a new manager who was in the early stages of getting his players to plug into his philosophy. The Hearts defeat owed more to that lovable strain of Scottish refereeing eccentricity you find in certain games. Bless. 

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Last night in Holland though, made me think for the first time that Postecoglu can make us proud of this team. Celtic’s 2-1 defeat was certainly an arse-clenching experience but, having watched it all over again, I’m now less inclined to the view that Celtic had “a torrid night” as suggested by the BBC’s comical Ali social media account. Here are a few reasons to be cheerful.

QUALITY OPPOSITION

AZ Alkmaar are one of the strongest sides Celtic will face all season. To have defeated a team who has arguably been one of the top two or three in Dutch football over the course of the last few seasons – and to have done it so early in Postecoglu’s reconstruction phase – is extremely satisfying.

NIL DESPERANDUM

Nor was this a desperate, backs-to-the-wall performance. Over the course of both legs, Celtic just about deserved to prevail in terms of chances created and overall play. In Holland last night they were pinned back deep in their own half for extended periods of the game. Yet during the most pressurized part of the game, as it entered its final half-hour, Celtic re-grouped and we found they had a spine. For much of this period, we produced some slick, one-touch football that created several opportunities.

FITNESS

The team has become noticeably fitter in the course of the last few weeks. In that last half hour the Dutch, now tiring after a full-blooded opening hour, opted to play long, deep balls in an attempt to turn Celtic on the flanks and take advantage of our caprices in central defence. A few weeks ago Celtic would have wilted, but here they stood tall and their midfielders were winning a decent share of balls breaking from defence. The last 15 minutes, which you’d have expected to be frenetic, were relatively trouble-free.

CHARACTER

For all Alkmaar’s good play over both legs, their two goals were handed to them by Celtic. On other occasions, errors such as these would have sapped at the miscreants’ confidence. Joe Hart though lost none of his authority and went on to make three top-class saves. Even more pleasingly, Carl Starfelt had what I consider to have been his best 45 minutes in that second half. That he had the mental fortitude to produce this under pressure and following a grotesque own goal indicates self-belief and strength of character.

READ MORE: Angeball is Celtic at their thrilling best and this is just the beginning - Tony Haggerty

THE SCOTTISH FACTOR

Celtic started with six Scots last night and this is much more important than simply providing encouragement for the international team. Four of them have come through the Celtic academy system. The others – Turnbull and Ryan Christie were signed when they could still be considered youths. They provide hope and encouragement for Celtic’s other gifted young players that there’s an identifiable and achievable route into the first team. The progress of Tony Ralston continues to delight. Over both legs against classy continental opposition, he was Celtic’s top performer. He must start against Rangers. The Scotland squad must be bursting with quality for him to be omitted from it. Obviously.

SPEED

At times during both these games, Celtic’s speed of movement and delicacy of touch between both boxes was breathtaking. I’ve rarely seen a Celtic team break so rapidly and cleanly from defence when an opposition attack breaks down. Crucially (unless I’m imagining it) our defensive headers seem to have some purpose beyond simply a need to get the ball clear. Even more crucially, Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada are developing an understanding even this early in the team’s gestation. It relies on Abada’s desire to attack space at every opportunity and Furuhashi’s speed and anticipation.     

FRENCH EDDY

Odsonne Edouard’s touch and strength last night when he appeared for the final half-hour recalled him at his best for this club. A few weeks ago the prospect of a sullen, malcontent playing down his contract to zero would have been sickening. If a rejuvenated Eddy helps Celtic win the title and automatic Champions League qualification it won’t matter a jot if he leaves for nothing. He’ll have given us far more than he ever cost and boosted his own reputation too.