Report: Jesse Marsch does not want to talk about rumors linking James McClean to New York Red Bulls

It has been widely reported over the past few days that Irish winger James McClean is in New York. Those reports all agree that his purpose is more business than pleasure: he is in town to "speak to interested clubs". MLS clubs. Specifically, says the rumor mill, Orlando City SC and the New York Red Bulls.

Especially the New York Red Bulls, in whose branded gear McClean appeared in a Facebook video. RBNY moved quickly to distance itself from that story:

Yes McClean was wearing #RBNY gear but didnt get it from them. Dont think theyll add him or anybody else this window https://t.co/3KDN1fJAlR

— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) May 12, 2015

As it happens, Kevin McGillicuddy at SportsJoe.ie noted the video in question appeared to have been shot in Ireland,not New York. So while it is certainly pertinent to the current McClean-to-RBNY chatter, it is not necessarily directly related to the matter at hand.

And the video has since been vanished from its residence at Facebook. Someone really doesn't want the issue of McClean wearing RBNY kit to become a big deal.

The Red Bulls appear not to want any part of the McClean rumor to become a big deal. Big Apple Soccer's Kristian Dyer asked head coach Jesse Marsch for official word from the club, and was given short shrift:

"We're not going [to] comment on any speculation at this point. That's what I'll say about that."

Shut it down. No comment means...well, it could be mean anything.

Marsch didn't have much problem explaining what was behind the unexpected rumor that Abdul Aziz Yusif, a Ghanaian forward, might be about to start a trial with RBNY. Nor has he been unwilling to comment on rumors linking the club to Kevin-Prince Boateng. And he has talked relatively openly (albeit vaguely) about considering adding an "attacking player" to the squad in response to questions about the Red Bulls' transfer market plans.

"No comment" hasn't really been Jesse's recent style. But as the head coach showed when he reigned in the high press against NYC FC after losing Matt Miazga to a red card, he can and will change his style when required.

Marsch's words about James McClean don't tell us a great deal about that particular transfer rumor, but they do suggest that on-field tactics are not the only area in which the coach is prepared to be flexible when his preferred methods appear imprudent.