Eb had mentioned having those sort of units in the works some time ago...basic Greek hoplites, as mercenaries and as recruitable units in some of the Greek areas. I could be wrong though.

And as far as the swing around thing, I find that pulling up just short still wreaks havoc on the enemy morale. Do that once or twice (without incurring any casualties), and a final charge should break them easily. OR, if your cav is strong enough (like hetairoi, kataphraktoi etc) go ahead and make the phalanx change direction, and order your phalanx formations to move into the enemy phalanx, now from the rear. It can be pretty murderous.

EDIT: I thought people had said months ago that phalanx behavoir increased with 1.5/1.6. Is that not true, or is it just not true for their movement?