Guess it depends how you approach it
That's the point, isn't it?! McL coems to VP with a reputation of being a straight-talker and a team-bond builder. He'll also know exactly who the 'trouble-makers' are: the managers do seem to share information about certain players. So, he'll have made this comment fully knowing what actions he'll need to take.
It's a nothing story really: all managers (in all sectors) seek to establish the ground-rules with a new team; it's just good practice.
