RONNIE MOORE was given a welcome surprise in midweek. Days after bemoaning the soft nature and weak mentality of the players within his squad, he finally got a reaction.

Some Hartlepool United players, ahead of today’s game at Wycombe Wanderers, almost came to blows.

It’s the sort of incident which happens constantly on training pitches across the country, but for Pools it’s a rare event.

Moore said after last Sunday’s defeat by Morecambe that his players were too soft, too quiet and timid.

And he then admitted: “It's difficult because you can't give them what they haven't got.

“You can coach them and try to improve them but if it's in your nature not to be a talker then it's hard to change that.

“You need to keep chipping away, try to get them talking to each other.

“We almost had a fight at training - I nearly had a heart attack!

“It was the first time I have seen anyone with a little bit of feeling so that was an improvement, it shows they are starting to care a little bit.’’

He added: “I am trying to instill the right mentality, they should not be expecting to lose - you see them sitting in that dressing room and their heads are down.

“We're trying to lift the dressing room but we need one or two players in there who can do that.

“Once we have that and four or five new players with the lads we've got I don't see any reason why we can't roll up our sleeves and make a real good fight of this.’’

Moore cannot underestimate the need to improve his squad, and he has until noon today to get any players in for kick-off.

He’s been looking in training at Scott Harrison, the Sunderland centre-half who has twice been on loan at Pools under different managers than Moore.

Oxford United’s Michael Raynes is available and Moore has spoken to the 27-year-old who has been allowed to leave the club.

He allowed loanees Joe Ironside and Matteo Lanzoni to return to their clubs and released winger Sidney Schmeltz this week, while he wanted at least three signings in for today and admitted: “It doesn't help us, or any football clubs, that the window opens on Saturday morning and you have to have them in by 12!

“There is not an awful lot can be done this week.

“Obviously I'd like to use the five loans I have available at this present time. With a bit of luck we might have a couple in but we'll have to wait and see.

“I've had an awful lots of nos from players who don't want to come. Experienced players do not want to come to a club where we are at the present time.

“There have been four or five players who are moving to teams at our level but are not willing to come here - they would like to come here but are going somewhere else.

“I have to make sure I don't dive in and do anything stupid and end up with some of the players we've ended up with for most of the season.

“I have to take my time, I can't rush it

“The window is open until the start of February, we've may be just got to try to change the shape of our side for how we play now and then take things on from Monday with some new faces.

“After Saturday we have a full week so hopefully we'll have some new players in but I don't see us having four or five players for this game.’’

Pools recently played the Chairboys at Victoria Park, losing 3-1 on November 29 at Victoria Park.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side has played out three successive draws and Moore admitted: “I’ve watched the DVD from the Wycombe game before I arrived and we gave them a game before throwing it away. There’s belief to be taken from that.

“I’ll show them pieces from it. But what’s gone has gone now. I’ve had my say and a chat with them, said my bit and I’m not normally one to rant and rave in public about players, but I’ve been here two weeks and that’s how I felt. That’s how angry I was and I want them to feel that way.

“It (Morecambe) was a shameful performance, not good enough and it’s not fair on supporters to watch that. One or two of the lads could put their shirts straight back on for Wycombe as they didn’t get a sweat on.

“We need a bit of blood and sweat and not too many tears. It’s a war for us, we are fighting for our lives and the last thing we want is to go out of the league. There’s an awful lot of good sides gone and disappeared – look at Stockport County and where they are now.’’