I did not find it very unfocused, perhaps because I was so grateful that the football became less central. The double reason I simply saw as reinforcement -- they might dither about one, but when the Patrician enters...

I also disagree that the characters are unremarkable. The girl and the boy are rather cypherlike, but Glenda (that was her name, right?) and Nutt were good. And I enjoyed the fashion world people. Not to mention Vetinari's lady friend.