I would go the Bronze working route first (allowing chopping), followed by Pottery for cottages.
Bronze working allows us to chop and to get axemen. So far, my only only experience of playing multi-player is the Civ IV MTDG, but all the advice I have read says don't neglect your military. Being Aggressive will give us a promotion and Bronze working allows us to build axes if we have copper.
I think I would build a worker before the first settler. I like a few cottages early so that they start to produce rwards as soon as possible.