I probably didn't articulate what I meant regarding spending and amounts and retaining players. For a start they the Spuds don't sell 40million worth of talent every year.
Essentially what I was trying to say was even if we spend the same as them the fact that they manage to retain their star players whilst we don't makes the situation even more baffling/concerning.
If Spurs finish top 4, Bale, Modric and Van Der Vaart will no doubt stay there, they manage to retain them without even offering top 4 football, why would they not if they manage to finish top 4. Anyway I think they'll make serious moves in the market if they do finish top 4 which makes it all the more depressing.