I have backed him from today at 10/1 @ £40 and gona continue to put as much money on him as I can! In my opinion he is the only one that is standing out from the crowd. He makes it his own song he and put his emotions in it. Ella is too young, they want a winner that is going to crack America and I believe james is the man to do it!.... Thoughts please.

I'm quite doubtful I don't think his voice is anything special too me he is just another WGWG and he isn't perceptually likable and he is lacking in the looks department so I think most of his votes will come from his story I don't see him cracking America he reminds me of a generic male winner you would get from American Idol and none of them are setting America's music scene on fire I can't see him being marketable he has no X Factor he is more like a busker you would see on the street can't see him even making it in the UK.

Just my opinion though.

I don't think so... For me he has the same vibe as Aiden from series 7, but I don't think he's as distinctive of a singer. I doubt he'll win.

Not good looking so the teens and tweens will put a line through him as someone to vote for.

Not particularly likable and looks like he needs a good wash

What is his sob story again as I don't think its a good one

Why does he wear those stupid glasses?

We will see when we see the make overs. I'm sure he will touch a lot of hearts in the lives. Trust me.

I think he is. I know its not much, and there Irish, so cant vote. But with what little talk there is with my friends on facebook about X Factor, James seems to be one of the few that always comes up. He's like my top 2 this year, and I think if given the right songs, he can do well. But the song choices I think will be what makes him or breaks him if he makes it!!!

I think he'll do alright but he's not a winner.

and he couldn't crack an egg, let alone America.

Credibility. 20/20 vision is so mainstream.

I can't see him winning. He's good at what he does, as is Lucy, but I can't see either of them winning x Factor.

see your points on all of them... but have a feeling he will be saved by judges if needed as many times as it takes.. think he will go home when it comes down to the public votes... i see him making 4th..
make over will include a good bath!!

I appear to be on my own here but I really don't get the deal with him. Not a particuarly good voice, no real charisma, lack of personality, no likeability factor.
I honestly thought I was watching a different programme when they went mad after his medicore (imo) audition.

Still, I'm sure every week, his 'woe is me' VT will gain him the sympathy votes

Hopefully they'll get him to invest in a good electric toothbrush and paste as well.

I expect he'll be guided to the nearest tooth whitening emporium though, and we'll see him with a set of 'radio actives' before long.

I really think some people don't like him because they way he is dressed and his appearance. Both of his audition had a WOW factor. Depending on themes I do believe he could struggle. Just hope he gets the right songs and puts his own mark on them like the other 2 he has songs. He has been getting a lot of airtime to. Lets see

He's just going to go the same way as Matt Cardle did. Bland, middle of the road, no X factor.

He does not stand out, his singing is divisive (I personally do not appreciate his voice at all, but then I also do not get the love for Joseph Whelan) and he seems to be a bit, well, desperate. I can't warm to him.

Heh, James Arthur gives me the "Matt Cardle 2.0" vibes. Yeah, it's possible he will walk away with this, but as the history taught us, Matt Cardle was the first from season 7 to get dropped from Sony. Guys like Matt, James Arthur are like crack for voters.

And no, I don't think he has any potential for international success.

A fool and his money are so easily parted.

How anyone can like this miserable looking lack of talent is beyond me but horses for courses.

Where are people out off by his image. He has a great image and his image can only get better from now on. I'm sure he will touch many viewers. But tile will tell. Ella is way to overrated at the moment and being backed heavily. So I like 10/1 for james n I'm sure his price will slash after judges houses, after all most of us seem to think he is thru to lives. Go on YouTube again and listen to his 2 auditons then come back and post again, takeaway the image just listen to the voice!!...

But Cardle won!

And I still think Matt Cardle will have a career, he just has to get clear of SyCo and bland, sh!t-pop penned by the likes of Gary Barlow.

As for James Arther - he's Matt Cardle-lite: not as good-looking, not such a good voice. However, people do like him, so he has a chance - if he gets through to Live. If Nicole goes down the diversity route Jimmy-boy will be competing with Adam for the one WGWG spot she will allow. Tough call.

Oh please, he's just a try hard emulation of Matt "Brookstein" Cardle.

As I find he hasn't got any star quality and his singing voice is horribly insipid, therefore it certainly isn't very difficult to preordain his fate if he ironically wins.

I hope you don't change this before I post this but anyway. BIB perhaps he should go back to tiling if it would help, because his voice as well as his "image" is atrocious. And Deidre Barlow would like her glasses back James Arthur.

Gary Barlow tweeted 5 days ago. #james Arthur #wow...

And this is proof of what exactly. It's called shameless PR. However I wouldn't put anything past Gary Barlow after all this is the man who put through Frankie Cocozza.

I actually think that James and Ella are the ones to beat .So sad that people are judging him by his looks rather than his singing talent . He's so far shown the strongest voice out of all the contestants barring Ella in my opinion .

I am sorry but isn't that part of what makes the whole "X-factor". He has to have the complete package. I am not saying he is unattractive by any means but can a person always looks so miserable and morose. It's like there is always a tragedy waiting to happen to him. He is like a little rain-cloud of doom (I nicked that from somewhere but can't remember where from)