i was just looking at Everton vs Villa (for my own amusement) as they are quite similar clubs:
Everton finished above us for the past 4 seasons.
Since the PL started, we finished above them 10 times, they finished above us 6 times.
They won 2 championships in the 1980's, Villa won 1.
We won a European cup, they won a Cup Winners Cup.
We've won 7 FA cups, they've won 5.
They won 9 league titles, we've won 7.
They had their recent 'dark' period in the late 1990's/early 2000's. they were just coming out of it, as we entered our dark period of the mid 2000's.
Everton's 2008 season turnover is $151m, Villa's is $150m.
Villa have been in the top division for 97 years, only beaten by Everton who have been here for 105 years.