There are a lot of different techniques and ways to fly the airplane and you will see it from different pilots.
It will slow from 250 kts easily in level flight and that's within slat speed and close to flaps 18. A lot of guys just slow it clean call for 18/gear down slow it a little closer in then straight to 40. Flying in vmc you can do it differently than the sim profiles. When imc stick pretty much to the sim profiles and everything will work out.
I personally don't like the a/t for app/landing they tend to move way too much-about 1.09 epr works well on final. When its gusty on final the trend meter will be going crazy and no need to chase it as long as you have a decent spool in.