You take great pride in your post #5, which also gives no "useful tips" by your own [implied] definition. How is
Another advice:
It's a feel thing and not a mental calculation.
any more useful than the
For slowing down, it's trial and error. It depends alot on the wind and the grossweight with the 737NG but I assume it's the same with the bus. In the beginning, try to slow down in level flight to get to know the energy management of the aircraft
that you declare as "contrary" to useful?
You also give an example, but so did others...
To an extent, for the person who asked the question, it IS "trial and error"! Since he apparently does not yet have a good feel for his airplane, the best he can do is meld his FCOM procedures with any or any mix of the examples, techniques, and guidelines given here. If he is unable to start at 20 NM and 5000' (your single example), he will have to interpolate, find another guideline, and/or calculate a path using his own devices.
Getting TO a standard (or or reasonably close) profile in the "Euro" environment you describe is likely harder than staying on it. However, if you "know" that your initial VNAV rate of descent is normally around 3000 FPM at TOC and 2000 FPM nearing 10,000' (typical for the 744, but may be different for your airplane), you can easily make adjustments from those bases.
Once you're below 10,000', the picture should be much clearer. If you're lower than desired, level off, or reduce your rate of descent to 500 FPM if you cannot level. If you're higher than desired, use speedbrakes (if you think you will only need them temporarily) and/or flaps (if you think you'll need them all the way down) to help slow down and/or descend more quickly. I have flown CDA profiles from 30+ miles before CDA was even a buzzword, much less "required". Just hold 240-250 KIAS until you want (or are told) to slow down, and use thrust and/or speedbrakes to get to the 3 deg profile.
Your standard FCOM procedures will give you the rest of your guidelines (e.g., start configuring at 17-20 NM from the airport in the 744). Once you're near the ideal path, you can easily slow down by simply extending flaps and landing gear in the normal sequence while decelerating.