Sunderland boss Gus Poyet feels they changed too much too soon last summer.
Poyet believes Tottenham have also suffered from their signing spree.
The ex-Spurs man said: "I think Spurs are in a very similar situation to us in terms of all the changes they have made.
"All the players who have come in, the changes of manager, the fact we were both expected to do better than we have done.
"I know it is difficult for those in charge at Spurs to send out the message that, because they brought in so many players, this is a transition year.
"They lost the best player in the league in Gareth Bale and brought in eight new ones.
"It is hard to send out that message because people get annoyed, so you do not say it and then people expect you to be near the top again."
