Rangers have their first win of the Championship campaign but have still to convince. Danny Stewart takes a look at some of the main concerns worrying their supporters.
Why is Ally McCoist using players out of position?
This is an issue which is seriously exercising the Rangers support. On Friday night, in the absence of the banned Ian Black, McCoist opted to start with Lee McCulloch in central midfield.
His thinking was obvious. This was a game the manager was under pressure to win, and he knew McCulloch would fight his corner on the field.
At 36 years old, though, the former Scotland internationalist struggles to meet all the demands of the position. Central defence would be a different situation.
And the fact he was there meant 20-year-old Lewis Macleod the most talented central midfielder in the squad was shunted out onto the wing, where he looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Not only that, but Kyle Hutton, another natural in the role and a man who has just been handed a new deal, was left sitting on the bench.
With new signing Darren McGregor, a centre back at St Mirren, also looking uneasy at full-back, the team has a makeshift look to it.
Does McCoist see certain players as undroppable?
The deployment of McCulloch in a variety of positions, plus the use of Nicky Law when off-form, has led to this charge being tabled at the Rangers boss.
Managers will always have members of the group they trust more than others. That is human nature.
Yet, as Sir Alex Ferguson showed throughout his career and Scotland boss Gordon Strachan demonstrates now, it is a sign of strength to favour players who are performing well at the given time.
It proves to the remainder of the group that they always have a clear path into the team. Likewise, it shows everyone they must continue to deliver if they are to keep their place.
Where is the evidence of strategic long-term planning at the club?
The Hearts team that won at Ibrox seven days ago contained five players from the club’s youth system Jordan McGhee, Kevin McHattie, Billy King, Dale Carrick and Sam Nicholson.
Rangers’ side, meanwhile, had just one graduate of Murray Park, Lewis Macleod.
The summer recruitment of Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd, two proven goalscorers, was warmly welcomed.
Yet without effective service and in this regard players like the too-often ineffective David Templeton are culpable their skills will be wasted.
Ally McCoist surprised more than a few listeners when admitting the intensity of Falkirk’s start had taken everybody by surprise. The fitness, youth and skill of the full-time Bairns is not exactly a secret.
Has Bilel Mohsni become a liability?
The Tunisian internationalist managed to get himself banned before the season had even started, thanks to his flying head butt on Derby striker Chris Martin.
It was an assault which earned him his third red card of his 14-month Ibrox career. By his own admission, a fourth could end it.
He came perilously close to picking it up at Falkirk on Friday night, getting booked early on then riding his luck through a couple of reckless challenges.
Of equal concern, though, was his general play, with far too many misplaced passes. On that form, his place must be in real jeopardy.
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