Tell me why certain pockets of the English (I assume you're English?) media attempt to belittle native English clubs on tour in Europe by writting snide comments like, "So now you can find out which Canadian winger could be about to tie Micah Richards up in knots, which former Chelsea star may dump former team mate Wayne Bridge on his backside, which Brazilian midfielder is going to give Didier Zokora the run around and which Croatian full-back is going to mess up David Bentley’s precious, precious hair."??

Why are you having a go at clubs representing our country abroad when it would be just as easy to write something mildly complemenary??

Both clubs are ambitious that's obvious but you see this not as an attribute be applauded but one to be sneered at and ridiculed?

The whole piece smacks of desperation! The initial comparisons of both clubs are cringeworthy!

The transfer window didn't shut more than 3 weeks ago and yet with the additional personnel gained both have "massively underachieved"?? & the final one re. the '81 cup final just highlights your inablity, or lack of knoledge, or both, to write an article worthy of being read anywhere other than this toilet of journalistic nonsence!

Your piece is laughingly headed "The Talenspotter", well here's news for you, I don't see any talent here! In fact quite the opposite!

FFS why don't you get behind English teams rather than slag them off at the first opportunity?

Could you just repeat yourself there? Couldn't quite hear above the thundering hooves of your high horse.

Of course we want all British sides to do well in European competition. The blog isn't derogatory, it merely suggests – with tongue in cheek – that both sides have under-achieved ("this season", note, not this month: the January window is a chance to top up, not start again).  

Ambition isn't to be sneered at, but there are fairly definable measurements of success in football, the league table in particular being a blatant meritocracy.

Any right-minded individual would have pegged City's expectations higher than mid-table, eight points above the drop zone and 18 off the top four. And even the most pessimistic Spurs fan can't have predicted the relegation battle they're undoubtedly involved in.

There's nothing wrong with ambition, but once you spend big money, you're bound to be judged on results. Or, as a City fan, did you extend a warm welcome to your neighbours' £28m midfield misfit Juan Seba Veron?