Like Ekanta mentioned i also think that the brit dont need anything like a CIR upgrade.
For stopping an otto i would go mainly for musks first, as they help me repeling a jan rush when they slightly outnumber them and my TC and my outpost are aiding the same time (maybe with MM, it depends).
This way i have more wood for houses left, as they only cost gold and food (unlike the lbs).
If he goes for abus guns after that/later i would mix some hussars in (maybe sending the 700 gold card to to this) and some lbs.
Only for this purpose (against an otto) i tend to send the cherokee. They aid IMO very well in a crowd of musks against the jans (Sometimes i shift some vils to gold to send them as my 3rd or sometimes as my second card).
Meanwhile you can outboom him very well with creating some manors, but not to much. Here it is also hard to find the balance how spending the res right (houses or troops).
I send the 700 wood also but i build houses with them and a stable in this case.
Important is that you should be knowing if he is going to rush you or if he is going for fortress. If he does more hussars are vital against his falcs and abus guns (mikro!!).
But you have had more time for booming and you have more res than him for troops and houses he spend for advancing.
Exploring is vital.
If he goes for tps you should outboom him more while trying to get some of them down.
I have to admit that otto was and still is a tough one for brits, too.
Your eco have to survive and you have to use the res you have more than him right.
IMO the only change i would give the yeoman card is o have your lb upgraded to vet when the card arrives. But this is the only change i can imagine for the brits. Making a skirm of them with the yeoman card is a bit too heavy IMO.
I think that they are very good with just the range increased so they are very deadly when massed or for desensive purposes.
[This message has been edited by Grottenmolch (edited 02-09-2008 @ 01:35 PM).]