USMNT: Jurgen Klinsmann to Make Tactical Tweaks vs. Panama?

U.S. men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann may switch up his formation when the United States face Panama at the StubHub Center on Sunday.

When asked by Scott French of MLSSoccer.com, Klinsmann confessed that he was unsure how the USA would line up against the Panamanians:

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This week, we'll see. I want to see different training sessions, different systems. Over the long term, I think [the 3-5-2 is] definitely a card that we should have in our back pocket. I don't have a preferred system – I'm not a freak for the Dutch 4-3-3 or the German 4-2-3-1 or the 4-4-2 in a diamond. I try to adjust systems to the player materiel I have.

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Considering how shaky the USMNT looked in 3-5-2 system in the recent game, switching the formation might be the best option. The U.S. have won just once in their previous nine matches, with their most recent defeat coming against a second-string Chile squad on January 28.

The only victory in the USA's last nine games was against Ghana at the 2014 World Cup, when defender John Brooks secured a late win in their first match of the tournament.

Jermaine Jones, who has played as a center back in Klinsmann's 3-5-2 recently, admitted to French that he's uncomfortable in that role: "I always say when I lose, I don't play [well]. I don't feel I was playing good [versus Chile]. Of course, new formation, new system, it's not easy. I would say I prefer, of course, to play more midfield, but if I go back [to the back line], I prefer to play in a back four."

Jones is correct in many ways. It's a new system, which everyone has to learn. Friendlies are used to experiment with different tactics and players; however, it's clear that the New England Revolution midfielder isn't suited to play in the back line on a consistent basis.

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press/Associated Press

The Panama friendly is the USMNT's second match of the calendar year. Their next game is against Denmark on March 25, followed by a meeting with Switzerland six days later.

The United States will continue their Gold Cup preparation vs. Mexico on April 15 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio and against the Netherlands on June 5. Then, the Stars and Stripes will face world champions Germany five days later.

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The 2015 Gold Cup begins on July 7. The USMNT are the defending champions, but they may have tougher competition compared to 2013. Many teams did not call-up their key players, which is the norm when the World Cup is a year away.

U.S. fans shouldn't put too much stock into the Gold Cup, anyways. Klinsmann is targeting a semifinal appearance in the 2018 World Cup, so if the USMNT wants to test that theory, they will have to perform well against stiffer competition.

The 2016 Copa America is the perfect challenge. Playing against opponents like Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and Chile will show if the U.S. is a potential semifinalist at the next World Cup.

Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @PGFutbol.