Heerenveen kick off their Eredivisie campaign with a Bradley start...

Michael Bradley is in the process of opening the season with the Frisians against a tough Willem II squad (remember Earnie Stewart?). It could be Bradley's year to shine as injury as put out central midfielder Andre Hansson and Paul Bosvelt's retirement. New striker Gerald Sibon will look to make an immediate impact as well - as goal glutton Afonso Alves still sits after returning to training camp late. There are expectations that Alves will leave before the deadline - and after scoring 34 goals in 31 matches last year - the pressure is going to be on the once-before Frisian Sibon to produce.

The ambition at Heerenveen is surprisingly low, however, coming off last year's 5th place finish. According to ESPN Soccernet, Heerenveen officials are saying that the Dutch big four (Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, and AZ) have way too much money for the Frisians to even compete and that a more realistic finish this year would be 7th place. Could be reverse psychology.

Heerenveen's Starting Line-UP vs. Willem II

24 Rob Van Dijk (G)
3 Kristian Bak Nielsen (D)
4 Michel Breuer (D)
5 Michael Dingsdag (D)
36 Timmi Johansen (D)
7 Jacob Poulsen (M)
2 Gianni Zuiverloon (D)
23 Danijel Pranjic (M)
6 Michael Bradley (M)
35 Gerald Sibon (S)
21 Miralem Sulejmani (S)