It is clear that Simon is the real mentor behind them and is trying to get them to the Final at all costs but I found it amusing that he gave them a lone standing ovation on Saturday night then on Sunday, after perhaps seeing the voting figures, decided it was the wrong song for them. If that wasnt enough Mel B also inexplicably made a big deal about her daughter writing on a scrap of paper that they were her favourites and Louis Walsh stated that Lola might be in trouble. All scripted imo and we even had Simon voting against them and putting it to deadlock when he must have known full well they were not bottom.
I know he wants another big boy group but his manipulations are becoming far too blatant and his tunnel vision is preventing him from seeing that Only The Young could be really successful if they got the backing and promotion that he is currently giving to Stereo Kicks.

It's bizarre. One Direction were crap when they were on the show but they didn't land in the bottom two at all, as far as I remember. Octocrap are failing already. Absolutely flogging a dead horse.

Simon seems so obsessed with boybands that I think he should ditch the X Factor format and do a Popstars rip off to let all the little girls create a new one.

Maybe all of the 9 year old girls were out at Halloween parties on Saturday and didn't see the show?

It's obvious the public are not warming to SK and the only chance of saving them is to get rid of the 3 pointless ones and make them a more manageable 5 piece but it's probably too late now anyway.

Think Cowell was already lining them up as replacements for 1D whose shelf life is almost over but it doesn't seem to have paid off

The public are just tired of boybands. They need to give up on pushing them because it's not going to work.

I saw the Wands on BBC Breakfast this morning. They look absolutely shattered and a complete mess. I don't get the appeal of Harry Styles either. He comes across as more boring and deadpan than Gary Barlow. As I'm not a fan (understatement) I don't follow them religiously - perhaps this was just a very bad interview!

What three pointless ones ?

When 1D came along there was only really JLS and The Wanted in the boyband and they both seemed "older" so there was room for a

Now there is One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, The Vamps and (to a small extent) Union J all cashing in on the teen market. Stereo Kicks have no chance competing against them. I mean with 1D they sort of built up their story from the start, we saw all/most of their auditions, we followed them at bootcamp (remember Zayn's not wanting to dance being a major thing) so when we hit the lives, you knew who they were. Like someone else has said, 1D may have been shite but they never once hit the bottom 2 because people supported them. They've not done this with SK at all. I seriously doubt many people would be able to identify who is who in that band.

I don't know why every series we have to have a poppy boyband pushed at us. There is clearly no room for one, yet if he went for a slightly older group or a more indie sounding group or worked hard with a mixed group (they should aim for more black eyed peas than s club 7) I could see it working a lot more.

I disagree.Simon mentored One Direction.They were no boybands at the time.Now SK are being compared to 1D,the Vamps etc.Different timing.

He has made no secret of the fact that he would like to mentor SK. He is not stupid to make an 8 piece boyband because that is what makes them unique at this point in time.

After the show they will not be mentored by Loius and there will not be themes. He will get them songs that suit them,good producers and good marketing

What you are forgetting is that there is still NO 8 piece boyband.All your querries are acheivable after the show.

Simon's unhealthy obsession with boy bands appears to be spiralling out of control. I found it amusing when he was the first to stand up and applaud Stereokicks after their shockingly bad performance. I don't think Simon would have done that 10 years ago. He did kind of accept his mistake the following night though.

I am actually starting to believe he changed this weeks theme to try and get his beloved SK back in the game. I have said all along that SK will never give another semi decent performance as they did when they predictably used the " Hey Jude" ending, simply for the ending. I think it is quite obvious that SK are going to sing " We will rock you" because they can get away with all of them singing that chorus at the same time whilst sounding like a pack of hyenas. Really clutching at straws here. Does Cowell not understand his new project is failing horrendously? Or is he so egotistical and cannot accept failure? It seems he is now trying every trick in the book to help SK. I find it quite amusing. At one time I used to appreciate Simon as a judge, when he really did tell it like it was, this was years ago though, today it seems he has finally lost the plot.

That is absolutely the wrong thing to do.They need to be 8 to stand against the boyband market.

When will people learn that Simon sits on the panel to see if contestants can be turned into artists after the show.Does he always back winners?NO.It doesnt matter if SK are in the bottom 2 as long as he can make something out of them afterwards.

Ella went out on deadlock with the fewest public votes.The same public has bought her album to no1. The public will not remember any thing if Stereo Kicks produce a good single.

Big difference is Ella was actually talented. She had something going for her. Even 1d had stage presence and chemistry. I have not seen anything to suggest SK have anything unique or talented to offer other than the fact there is 8 of them, that does not automatically make them unique. Currently it is quite obviously working against them, now if they had chemistry and talent that would be a different story. I don't think they have any potential to be a big hit. I am sure Simon knows this by now but it is his own ego that wants to prove himself right. Even when he knows he has no chance.

Stereo Kicks are pretty much bombing on the show. It's not a great launchpad as they will be associated with failing on X Factor in what is hardly a vintage year for talent. I do think they have the wrong mentor in Louis and his total lack of imagination but haven't seen anything from these lads to suggest they could be great under anybody else's guidance.

It's shocking.
It's too obvious they won't work. Nothing there makes sense.

A boyband James Graham - Jake Sims - Tom Mann - Casey Johnson might have worked but as it is, with so many people on stage doing nothing, it's just absurd.

Totally agree. The look on Louis face when he announced them before their sing off said it all. I think James could probably fit into a few boy bands I really struggle to think of any others who could fit into a proper boyband. At this stage they should be doing a lot better. You hit the nail on the head, the competition this year is extremely poor. Their only slim chance of saving themselves is well and truly to cut 3 members out and see how it goes. Harsh, but true words.

Totally agree with all this, total manipulation and disgusted that Mel kept stereo kicks in over Lola who was so much better. Stereo kicks were so out of tune at the beginning of their sing off song.

Plus I totally agree that Only the Young are so much better and with a better mentor they would be at the top now. They were so good with their Monster Mash song. They just need the right songs and Louis is not good enough to be mentoring them. They could be the dark horses of the competition just like Little Mix were. They are very likeable!

All the boys have amazing voices or they wouldn't be there and jake showed it last night with his rap .

They need to treat them more like a choir and get them to sing in harmony.

Ella was also a 'shock' exit. I don't think anyone would be surprised or care if SK were eliminated.

OTY should be the favoured group this year. There is a massive gap for them because there aren't any mixed groups about, and they'd probably appeal to the same audience as SK without edging any other bands out. Simon's favouring of SK could backfire if they took off and could potentially finish off One Direction (just as they finished off JLS).

I would not be shocked if he had changed the theme so Stereo Kicks could sing the Five version of We Will Rock You with some rap thrown in to prove how urban they are. Five used to be managed by Cowell too.

Stereo Kicks remind me of when Simon tried to force that terrible girlband Hope on the public. It was obvious after they landed in the bottom 2 the first time that they wouldn’t work, but he was stubborn and only gave up after their 3rd bottom 2 appearance. Stereo Kicks will go exactly the same way. The comparisons to Ella Henderson are ridiculous and I’m not even a fan. She could actually sing and even at 16 was writing her own material. Stereo Kicks meanwhile have a few average voices, no coordination and little chemistry. If they can’t stay out of the bottom 2 with heavy support from the show and 8 lots of family and friends voting for them, they have no hope.

Oh that is so funny, stop you are making me hurt I am laughing so much

I wouldn't be surprised if he hired a hit man to shoot down 3 of them he seems so desperate. BTW they will probably use many elements of the 5 version. I really find it hilarious how everyone can see which song will be chosen for them. Oh how predictable the show has become.

Getting them to sing in tune would be a start.