well, the Phalanx was used as extra protection, so the enemy is scraping at a wall of shields with a sword, when the Hoplites are impaling everyone with a huge spear. It was said, if not in a Phalanx, the Hoplite was useless in melee combat, but all the Greek strategy and war efforts focused on keeping the Phalanx together, so melee would not be a problem. To help this, later the Romans, i don't know about the Greeks, had cavalry divisions flank the Phalanx position, kinda like a mop up crew. Phalanxs were used to "absorb" the initial shock of the meeting of the 2 forces, but rarely broke up, if a Phalanx ever broke up, it was seen as a half lost battle already. therefore there should be a phalanx formation for the Greeks, since they sucked one on one, but were unstopabble in a Phalanx.
"In the centre was Phobos (Fear) worked in adamant, unspeakable, staring backwards with eyes that glowed with fire. His mouth was full of teeth in a white row, fearful and daunting, and upon his grim brow hovered frightful Eris (Strife) who arrays the throng of men ...