Is Longstaff better than Lemina as DM?
From a personal point of view and observing. Lemina is faster and more skillful. But i think the full packet as a football player and person. Include mentality and football decisions. I would prefer Longstaff over Lemina. I think Longstaff would been better to handle bigger pressure to deliver consistent playing for one of the biggest club. Lemina i am afraid more of a mood player. You see the hard work and consistent mood personality of Kante and Fernandinho. I think Longstaff is more and closer to those than Lemina. Then the hard work mentality might win over the skills.
And if you dont limit them. I think both of Lemina and Longstaff can play box to box. Still young and high of energy and guts. And about Longstaff. If you give him space and time outside of the box. Then i think you are done. He has a good clinical finisher. And he is good to shoot the ball where the goalkeeper will find it difficult to save. So beside a really good all round football abilities. Longstaff is been able to score goals too.
Same as for Declan Rice. Rice is not a mood player. Consistent hard work and fighting mentality. Most of the time. We choose the guts to win and hard work over skills. You have super skills. But if you dont work hard, no top winning mentality and inconsistent mood. You will not hit the top level. As top level and world class level. Everything get to be on top. But mentality and skills. Its where and reason i think Longstaff is closer to the top level at this moment. As a full packet.
So again, if i have to choose beetween those two. I would go for Longstaff. At this moment. Because everything can change. In the future. More correctly everything will change. Because nothings will last forever. Both skills/body and mentality.