This aggressive strategy does work. I tried it myself yesterday on expert and, believe it or not, I eliminated the entire Moorish faction by 719. I'm going to try it again to make sure I haven't gone crazy or made a mistake and I will report on my second attempt later.

Re the first successful aggressive attempt:(sorry this is only an outline, I don't have time for detailed explanation.)

Strategy: move most or all available troops into Cordoba; AI does its silly retreat thing, thinking they can't win the battle; VERY IMPORTANT: build peasants or other 100 man units (archers) to prevent revolts in newly conquered territories; I like to build farm upgrades 10% 20% 40% etc to develop income. With any extra cash build best available cavalry/infantry. Important: send emissary to ally with Aragon and Portugal. (I did not build any ships)
Continue like this; build 10% 20% 40% farm upgrades, build peasants to prevent revolts, move troops to front lines. Attack Granada; AI does its silly retreat thing; attack Morocco AI does its silly retreat thing and so on through Africa to Egypt and victory.
I only had to fight 2 actual battles; once in Cyrenaica where the Moors attacked me and I defeated them. (Reason: I was on defense and they hadn't developed those huge spear/sword armies yet)
Final battle: in the Sahara;last Moorish province)

To summarise: I won because of AI retreat in the face of perceived superiority (silly retreat thing). Hence Moors don't get time to develop their formidable armies.

Re: my first post that started the battle reports discussion on expert Spain:
I remember starting out the same way by invading Cordoba and Granada early. But then I stopped. I didn't attack Morocco; instead I concentrated on Portugal and Aragon. Result: Moors develop their armies leading to a much more difficult (and enjoyable game)


I'm going to test this again