The X Factor 2008 - Official Thread

Its also worth noting that a group has never won, and with the exception of G4, Chico and Ray, noone has been in the bottom 2 and lasted more than 2 weeks without ending up in the bottom 2 again. At a complete push JLS could finish second but I wouldn't count on it. Alexandra has this in the bag anyway because shes the one which seemed to has gained the most momentum in the past week or so. Either way Alexandra and JLS will with get a successful career off the back of the show. Eoghan will probably end up going down the Same Difference route and failing.

I also think Alex has the better story which the cynical side of me thinks Cowell would love. Rejected in 2005. Fought against all the odds. Came back to triumph in 2008.

It seems pretty obvious that Alexandra should win, she's been consistent throughout the series and is the only one left with star quality. I think despite some of the strange voting so far in the series, she will pull through and win. JLS will probably come second, and Eoghan third.

Eoghan, to me, isn't a serious contender in the final - he's only there because he's Simon's act. Episodes like last week when he pulled Diana away at the end of the song are just a bit embarrassing.

I think its going to be a landslide in favour of Alexandra. I can see something like a 70/30 split in her favour. The battle is for second place, I'm more inclined to say Eoghan will come second because JLS have been in the bottom 2. Where momentum is gaining on JLS, I think Alexandra is gaining more momentum especially in the past couple of weeks and she is the one who is most likely to have the votes of the 'big 5'. And shes Cheryl's act, and its been planned out for Cheryl to have a victory in her first year.

... but have seen his odds slashed since!

Ooh we are a little conspiracy theorist aren't we! My feeling is that this is utter tosh.

The fact that Eoghan (sp?) has got this far is an utter joke. Personally I don't believe that it's because he's Simon's act, I think it's because he's a cute little boy who can cry on demand, c.f. Leon Jackson. His songs were an absolute car crash this week - I think it's fair to say Diana has a weaker voice but I still prefer every other aspect of her performances to his.

However how will it go? I think JLS will be out first, and after that, who knows. I'd really like to think the public will do the right thing and give it to Alexandra, but then it quite blatantly should have gone to Rhydian last year, and look what happened there.

I agree with everything up until you mentioned that peroxide big head from last year.

Alex should take it this year - as I've said since the auditions. I'm not a huge fan of the live shows, but from what I've seen she's the one with the "X factor" (whatever that is).

Its all a bit nonsense to say that its been designed around Cheryl winning her first year.

That kind of guff is *so* Digital Spy.

Yeah I don't believe any of this tosh about it being "engineered" for somebody to win, be it contestant or judge. They can do all they like, but it is the public who ultimately decide the winner.

For what it's worth, I'm disappointed with the final 3 this year. Eoghan is there because teenage girls and mums find him cute (much as they did with Leon last year), although despite the many criticisms of him, I have to admit he does have good stage presence - it's just his weak voice that lets him down. I don't get the appeal of Alexandra (or Leona-Lite, as I like to call her). She's an OK singer who can hit the notes but can't do them with any real power. I can't see her having much success after the show has finished because she is nowhere near as good as anything similar in the charts already. JLS are the best of a bad bunch, they are genuinely nice lads and great role models for the kids, but their performances can be a bit hit and miss.

The show really needed Ruth in the final, and possibly Laura as well. They were the only 2 from the live shows who I believe gave genuinely passionate performances week after week.

I think I'd like JLS to win now, although I do think that Ruth should have been the winner.

Last year if you think back to the earlier rounds Rhydian was made out as a hate figure, and some are influenced by that and will not change their opinion no matter what. Rhydian was also a classical singer and I can't exactly see many 16-24 year olds with Rhydian on their iPod, likewise with Same Difference. I think the reason Leon won last year was because he was the last one left who most of the audience could see themselves listening to, which if his sales are anything to go by means nothing.

I also fail to see the Alexandra/Leona connection. Both have sung the same songs but in a completely different style. They are nothing like one another.

I think the order for Saturday will be Alexandra, JLS, Eoghan. JLS are really gaining momentum, but I think Alexandra will just get it in a 55/45 split.

no i think he managed that all by himself, no engineering required.

It can all change on the night really - despite the protests last year anyone who actually watched the show could see it really was a close call, though Leon was obviously helped alot by his duet with Kylie.

Are they doing duets again this year - reports suggest Beyonce, Duffy and Seal are all performing, but if that's with the finalists I don't know, though I have seen reported of Alex and Beyonce doing a duet.

Is it wrong to admit that I fall into that category (aged 20) and have both Rhydian and Same Difference on my mp3 player? I hated Leon from the outset though last year.

As for this year, it's pretty obvious that Alex should be the winner as she is the most talented of the finalists, but I kind of don't want her to win, as it'll just be similar to Leona winning. It really wouldn't suprise me to see Eoghan winning.

It's certainly been a strange year for voting though, as at the beginning of the series I predicted the following to make it to the semi-final:
Austin, Laura, Ruth and Diana, and none made it.
Perhaps I should just keep schtum in future as all the years I've been watching Pop Idol/X Factor shows the only time my favourite won was when Leona did.

My predictions in the past being...

Sam Nixon - PI2
Tabby - XF 1
Andy/Chico/Journey South - XF 2
Leona/Ben - XF 3
Rhydian/Same Difference - XF 4