Yes, I use pirlo with Gattuso and Parker (from Chelsea) and use 4-1-2-1-2 ... and set Pirlo as the playmaker (good passing, crossing) with both of the other hard tackle ... parker and gattuso can tackle many balls and pass to pirlo for attack ... all of them performed very good ...
especially my parker can usually get more than 8 marks (once 3 10 marks in five matches)