The messed up thing here is that they're right about DPS and caps and all that. At the same time, I'm a cap whore and so tend toward those when playing the AI more than anything. I know better in MP and adjust accordingly.Obviously I start producing cruisers up the yin yang when I max out on caps, but the point is that where you're fighting 5 hard AIs, I'm playing against half a dozen unfair AIs and still eating them up.
I think the first issue (aside from raw DPS) is that you're going big or going home. Kols and Kodiaks are nice, but without support ships, they're toast in a situation where all players have had time to build up. With caps, I like leaning on Sovas for reaching and touching someone, Dunovs for regenerating damaged comrades, and even a couple of lvl 6+ Marzas to barrage enemy frigates and cruisers into scrap. Kols are good damage sinks, but you don't need many to get the enemy's attention.
As for frigates/cruisers (the preferred method), you need to get a lot of Hoshikos to keep your guys in good repair and cause the enemy a little torment. Javelis' have great DPS, but need to be kept out of the close fray. Percherons will fill in for a Sova and chew them up via bombers. Gardas only do light damage, but are tough and can get 360 degrees of fire if you sink them into the enemy numbers. Cielos help, but a little goes a long way.
So I think, amongst frigates/cruisers, that you need lots of Percherons to dig into them, Gardas to cover the carriers and run aground of the enemy forces to slow them should they get too close, Javelis' to pelt them as they approach and while they deal with the Gardas/Kodiaks, Kodiaks for point, Hoshiko's to keep them all in a good way, and a few Cielo for good measure.
All units should be on Hold Ground so that you can micromanage them. The AI tends to spray fire every which way. Kodiaks to take point, with Javelis', Cielos and Hoshikos immediately behind for support. Gardas and Percherons can hang back, the Gardas ready to move forward and assist the Kodiaks on a moment's notice.
Let the enemy come to you so flak thins out the enemy strike craft and your bombers are given time to do some extra damage. If the enemy is big on frigates and cruisers, a couple of Marzas are nice to use Missile Barrage (on manual) when the forces are all within range to maximize the damage. Kodiaks shouldn't bury themselves in the enemy ranks, but can take it. Javelis' should be kept out of direct fire if possible. Gardas are yours to sink into the enemy numbers if their strike craft thin out.
I'm sure there's more I can say, but this is all speculation and is completely driven toward late, single player games. Micromanaging your fleet gets into a lot of detail and depends on what race you're against and their composition. If nothing else, always scout a grav well and consider what they have before you make any large moves.
As for the rest of you guys, try not to be too critical of me. We're all equally in the dark, and I figure he's played the same battle enough times where one more idea couldn't hurt. Besides, this is dealing with an AI and I know that it would handle this composition with insanely less grace than any human.