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Tottenham News: Why Harry's Successful Surgery Came at Perfect Time for Spurs

Frank Wagner@Fw1812X.com LogoCorrespondent INovember 2, 2011

When it was reported that Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp was to have heart surgery today, the immediate reaction of all Spurs fans must have been one of horror.

From the outside, 'Arry seems to be the glue holding this team together.  Just look at how Modric, the want-away Croatian midfielder, has been playing the past few weeks and remember that he is the same man who looked uninterested against Man City in August.

Just look at how Redknapp dealt with Rafael Van der Vaart, the Dutchman whose goal-scoring was so vital to Spurs' Champions League season.  

A few short weeks ago, after VdV refused to back-track against Arsenal, and then complained about being put in a position to do so, I was wondering if he was penning his January exit. After all, Adebayor and Defoe were playing so well and Lennon was on his way back.  But lo and behold, the manager took him aside and had a few words with him, then sent him back out there. Since then, Van der Vaart has five goals in four EPL matches.

When this season began, it looked to be a great challenge for Spurs, but now it looks more than promising.  This can be almost entirely attributed to Redknapp's masterful man-managing, the same quality that has brought attention from the FA for Capello's replacement.

So when news broke that Harry was suddenly having heart surgery for unknown reasons, it is understandable for fans to go into panic mode.

Thankfully, ESPN is reporting that the operation, which was to unblock coronary arteries, was a complete success and that the manager would be kept in the hospital for 48 hours.

Incidentally, Tottenham is less than 48 hours from a Europa League clash with Rubin Kazan in Russia, a fixture that will now be taken over by assistant coaches Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond. Additionally, Spurs have an EPL clash at Craven Cottage with Fulham on Sunday.  Whether Redknapp will be back for this fixture is unknown.

Now, I am in no way saying that Redknapp's health being such that he needs heart surgery is a good thing for the chap, but could this have come at a better time for Spurs?

For Thursday's match in Russia for the Europa League (can we just rename this the "Consolation League" or the "Nobody Actually Cares League"?), Redknapp was already talking about leaving many key players home.  Now the manager himself gets a rest and some of the team gets a match to adjust to life without the boss before an always-tough fixture at Fulham.  And, even if he's not back to the sidelines by Sunday, next week's international break will provide all the time needed for Harry to get back and prepare for Aston Villa.

Spurs' fixture at Rubin Kazan, a match that was seemingly going to be a distraction before their important EPL clash on Sunday, has become a much-needed building block before the Fulham clash.  Instead of being worried about the distraction or terrified by Redknapp's surgery, fans should now be thrilled and optimistic at the prospect of the week ahead.

You know it's good to be a Spurs fan when heart surgery ends up being a major plus to the season.