If it's a 172 with 40 degrees of flap on it, and you're landing at a short strip, you'll need some power on to stop it falling out of the sky. You need a fair bit of power to keep 60 kts with the barn doors out on a normal approach.
Our '74 172 lands much better with a little bit of power on down to the threshold - makes it easier to nail the speed, and as has already been said, you want to nail the speed or it'll float a fair way, and if you put it down fast, you'll get a wicked nose gear shimmy.